The Supreme Court on Monday directed a petitioner to approach the Bombay High Court with his plea alleging that Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray delivered a hate speech targeting the north Indian community and incited violence against them.
A bench led by Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran was hearing a petition filed by Sunil Shukla, the national president of the Uttar Bhartiya Vikas Sena, who accused Thackeray of delivering an inflammatory speech on March 30 during a Gudi Padwa rally. The speech allegedly provoked attacks on Hindi-speaking individuals at various locations in Mumbai, including Powai and D-Mart in Versova.
“Is the Bombay High Court on vacation?” the CJI asked during the hearing, suggesting the petitioner had bypassed the appropriate legal forum. Following this observation, Shukla’s counsel withdrew the plea, with liberty to approach the Bombay High Court.
Shukla’s petition alleged that Maharashtra police and government authorities failed to act on his repeated complaints seeking criminal proceedings against MNS members for harassment, threats, and physical intimidation. He claimed his advocacy for the rights of north Indians has made him a frequent target of the MNS and its affiliated groups.
The plea detailed past incidents, including a mob attack on October 6, 2024, when around 30 alleged MNS supporters attempted to ransack his party office. It also cited death threats — including a chilling tweet inciting his murder — and over 100 anonymous threatening calls received following the Gudi Padwa rally.
Despite several written representations to the Maharashtra Chief Minister, Director General of Police, Mumbai Police Commissioner, and the Election Commission of India, no First Information Report (FIR) has been registered so far, the plea stated.
While the apex court did not delve into the merits of the case, it permitted Shukla to pursue appropriate remedies before the Bombay High Court.
