‘Hate speech’: Delhi HC lets activist withdraw plea against politicos

NEW DELHI: Delhi high court on Monday permitted social activist Harsh Mander to withdraw his plea seeking registration of FIR against politicians for their alleged hate speech to fuel violence in northeast Delhi in February this year.


A bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and justice Prateek Jalan allowed Mander, represented through senior advocate Kapil Sibal, to withdraw the plea and instead approach the trial court with the same prayer.

The court was hearing several petitions related to the violence where Mander, along with Left politician Brinda Karat, has sought registration of FIRs under provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) against political party members including BJP’s Kapil Mishra. Earlier, Delhi Police, in its affidavit on the petitions, had submitted that the police authorities acted promptly, vigilantly, and effectively without any fear or favour as a result of which violence could be contained in a few days and to a limited area.

“Speeches of political members, including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Anurag Thakur, Kapil Mishra, Pravesh Verma, Waris Pathan, and others, are being examined by Delhi Police and necessary action in this regard will be taken in due course of time if evidence is found that their speech had any nexus with the riots,” the affidavit said, adding that the petitions raising questions on the investigation is nothing but a blatant and brazen misuse of public interest litigation. In response, Sibal told the court that he wished to seek relief before the magistrate’s court and was allowed to withdraw the plea.