Delhi court seeks response from Delhi Police on plea against Suresh Chavhanke

A Delhi court has sought the response of the Delhi Police on a criminal application against Sudarshan TV chairperson and editor-in-chief Suresh Chavhanke for his alleged hate speech against Muslims at an event organized by the ‘Hindu Yuva Vahini’ in Delhi..The application was filed by Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas, the president of the Welfare Party of India and a member of the central advisory council of Jamaat-e-Islami-Hind under Section 156(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code. Chavhanke in the event was seen administering an oath to a group of people to “die for and kill” to make India a “Hindu Rashtra” (Hindu nation).Ilyas claimed that Chavhanke made imputations against the members of the Muslim community including statements like “chaar chaar biwiyaan aur chawalis bachhe karke, Hindustan par ghazwa-e-hind karne par koi kasar nahi chhodi hai.”The plea prayed that the accused must be charged under Sections 153A (promoting enmity between groups and acts prejudicial to harmony), 153B (imputations prejudical to national integration), 295A (deliberate, malicious acts to outrage religious feelings), 298 (deliberate utterance to wound religious feelings), 504 (intentional provocation to breach peace), 505 (intent to incite) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code. Ilyas stated that it is settled law that anybody can set criminal law into motion, and there is no concept of locus standi in criminal law at the stage of providing information in relation to cognisable offences..The complaint through advocates Tara Narula, Tamanna Pankaj and Priya Vats, submitted that despite the accused’s continuous attempts to disturb the peace and harmony, and multiple events of incendiary speeches, no FIR has been registered on the complaint of the applicant and the accused person have not been arrested by the police. The following reliefs have been sought:1. Direct the SHO, PS Govindpuri to register a First Information Report on the Complaint dated 25.12.2021 of the Applicants alleging commission of offences under, inter alia, Section 153A/153B/295A/ 298/ 504/ 505/ 506 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and 2. Direct that the investigation into the FIR be monitored by issuing necessary directions to the SHO to investigate the matter fairly, properly and impartially fater the registration of an FIR, including arrest the Accused persons in accordance with the law.In 2020, the Supreme Court had heard a plea against Sudarshan TV for airing of a news show Bindas Bol anchored by Chavahnke which alleged Muslim community of "UPSC Jihad". The show which claimed that there was conspiracy by Muslims to infiltrate civil services invited a lot of flak from the Court for showing images and news clippings stereotyping Muslims.In November 2020, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B Ministry), had cautioned Sudarshan News on the programme 'Bindas Bol,' but permitted the channel to telecast the remainder of the episodes of the programme subject to suitable "modifications" and "moderations".

Delhi court seeks response from Delhi Police on plea against Suresh Chavhanke

Areeb Uddin Ahmed

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