24 Apr. 24
In a recent development, the Maharashtra government informed the Bombay High Court that FIRs have been registered against BJP MLA Nitesh Rane and independent MLA Geeta Jain for their speeches during and after communal clashes in Mira Road, Thane district, in January.
Nitesh Rane, a BJP member, and Geeta Jain, an independent MLA supporting the BJP, faced allegations of hate speech following the clashes.
The court heard a plea from five petitioners, including two victims of the violence, who approached the court after feeling that the police had not taken action against the leaders despite Supreme Court directions.
Advocates representing the petitioners argued that the speeches made by the MLAs clearly constituted hate speech offenses under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). They sought FIRs under sections like 153 (provocation with intent to cause riots), 153A and 153B (promoting enmity between groups), 295A (defiling place of worship), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief).
The Public Prosecutor, Hiten Venegaonkar, informed the bench that police commissioners had reviewed the content of the leaders’ speeches, resulting in the registration of four FIRs under sections 153A, 153B, and other IPC provisions in areas like Mira Bhayander, Mankhurd-Govandi, Ghatkopar, and Malwani.
Specifically, Nitesh Rane was booked under IPC section 153 at Mankhurd police station and under sections 153A and 506 at Ghatkopar police station. Cases were also registered against Rane and Geeta Jain under IPC sections 153A, 153B, 504, and 506 by Mira Bhayander police, and against Rane and Bhagwan Thakur by Malvani police.
In response to concerns raised about section 295A (defiling a place of worship) not being invoked, Venegaonkar assured that police commissioners would consider this and file an affidavit. He also mentioned that the police had received 13 complaints related to the violence in Mira Road in January.
The court has scheduled the next hearing on June 19 to further address these matters. This development highlights the ongoing legal proceedings concerning hate speech allegations against public figures and underscores efforts to ensure accountability and adherence to legal norms in such cases.
