Go to High Court: Supreme Court on plea against Raj Thackeray over violence against Hindi speakers

The Supreme Court on Monday declined to entertain a petition seeking registration of an First Information Report (FIR) against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) Chief Raj Thackeray and de-recognition of the party over his alleged hate speech targeting the Hindi-speaking population [Sunil Shukla vs. Union of India and Ors.].

A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran asked the petitioner's counsel to approach the Bombay High Court first.

The petitioner Sunil Shukla, National President of the Uttar Bharatiya Vikas Sena, then sought a permission to withdraw the plea. The request was granted.

"Learned counsel seeks liberty to withdraw the petition with liberty to approach the jurisdictional High Court. We clarify that we have not expressed any opinion on merits,” the Court noted in the order.

Shukla in the plea had submitted that in March 2025, during a Gudi Padwa rally, Thackeray made an openly provocative speech that incited violence against North Indians, particularly targeting those employed in public-facing roles who did not speak Marathi.

The speech, broadcast on a television channel, allegedly led to a spate of violence against Hindi-speaking workers in Mumbai, including incidents at Powai and Versova, Shukla claimed.

Shukla also said that he was personally threatened with death on social media and had received over 100 anonymous calls threatening his life. He further submitted that on October 6, 2024, a group of about 30 individuals affiliated with MNS allegedly attempted to ransack the party office of Uttar Bhartiya Vikas Sena in Mumbai.

Despite multiple written complaints to Maharashtra’s Chief Minister, senior police officials and the Election Commission of India, no FIRs were filed and no protection was granted to him or his party members, Shukla alleged.

Advocates Abid Ali Beeran, Sriram Parakkat, Anandhu S Nair and Maneesha Sunil Kumar appeared on behalf of the petitioner.