The Delhi High Court is likely to pronounce its verdict today on a plea seeking registration of an FIR against Union minister leader Anurag Thakur and his BJP colleague and Lok Sabha MP Parvesh Verma for their alleged hate speeches against anti-CAA protesters.
Justice Chandradhari Singh had on March 25 reserved his order on a plea by CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat, who sought an FIR against Mr Thakur and Mr Verma, arguing that a cognizable offense was made out against them.
‘Pre-approval required’
Ms Karat had challenged the August 26, 2020 order of a trial court here which had dismissed her plea. The trial court, in its order, had held that prior approval of the Central Government is required as per Section 196 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) at the stage of registering the FIR, as both Mr Thakur and Mr Verma were MPs.
The CPI(M) leader has filed an FIR against two BJP leaders under sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race), 153B (allegations, claims prejudicial to national unity), 295A (deliberate and malicious) had demanded to do. Section 505 (statements abetting public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code.
Serious crime
Highlighting the alleged provocative statements made by Mr Thakur and Mr Verma against the anti-CAA protesters at Shaheen Bagh, Ms Karat had claimed that a cognizable offense was made out against the two.
Ms. Karat had approached the trial court following a written complaint to the Commissioner of Police and the SHO of the Sansad Marg police station, but received no response. Their plea said the trial court had stayed judicial recourse without considering that the state which was a “supporter” of the two leaders would also act as the sanctioning authority.