Hate Speech: High Court Grants 4 Weeks To Maharashtra Police For Obtaining Sanction To Prosecute BJP Leader Vikram Pawaskar

The Bombay High Court on Thursday ordered the Maharashtra Police to obtain a sanction to prosecute Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State Vice President Vikram Pawaskar, for charges of hate speech, within four weeks.

A division bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Prithviraj Chavan noted the submissions of Chief Public Prosecutor Hiten Venegavkar, who told the judges that the chargesheet in the Sangli hate speech case, was filed against the accused persons including Pawaskar.

"A sanction for prosecution under section 153A (promoting communal enmity) is awaited. We applied for the same but the sanctioning authority had some queries. We have now submitted our responses and sanction is awaited," Venegavkar told the judges.

At this, the bench said, "We grant you four weeks to obtain the mandatory sanction."

Further, Venegavkar informed the bench that the police could not find any material to prosecute Pawaskar in the case of murder at Satara, wherein a Muslim man died during communal violence, last year.

It was alleged by the petitioner Shakir Tamboli that the police did not name Pawaskar in its First Information Report (FIR) in the murder case despite him attending a criminal conspiracy for a riot and attack on a mosque which led to the death of a man in Satara.

As far as the Sangli case is concerned, Pawaskar is booked for making objectionable speech against the Muslim communities during a rally. Pursuant to the speech, the police registered FIRs under section 153A.

The bench having heard the contention asked Venegavkar to submit the fact that Satara Police have not come across any incriminating material against Pawaskar, on an affidavit.

The hearing has been adjourned till September 2.

Appearance:

Senior counsel Mihir Desai and advocate Lara Jesani appeared for Petitioner.