Loudspeaker Row: PIL In Bombay High Court To Book Raj Thackarey For Sedition, Restrain Him From Touring Maharashtra
One Hemant Patil, claiming to be a social and political activist, has approached the Bombay High Court seeking registration of an FIR against MNS Leader Raj Thackarey, alleging Sedition and to restrain him from organising tours and press conferences in Maharashtra on the issues of reciting the Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers and raising cries to remove loudspeakers from Mosques. He says...
One Hemant Patil, claiming to be a social and political activist, has approached the Bombay High Court seeking registration of an FIR against MNS Leader Raj Thackarey, alleging Sedition and to restrain him from organising tours and press conferences in Maharashtra on the issues of reciting the Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers and raising cries to remove loudspeakers from Mosques.
He says that on May 1, Thackarey had organised a rally in Aurangabad wherein he attacked Nationalist Congress Party supremo Sharad Pawar though his speeches by playing the Hindu Card.
Thackarey had further warned that if loudspeakers were not removed from Mosques his men would play the Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers outside those places of worship.
According to the petition, Thackarey claimed Pawar is against Hinduism. The petitioner claims an apprehension of breach of peace.
The petitioner said that the Aurangabad police merely booked Thackarey under Sections 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 116 (abetment of an offence punishable with imprisonment-if offence be not committed) and 117 (abetting commission of an offence by the public or by more than 10 persons) of the Indian Penal Code and provisions of the Maharashtra Police Act.
He added that the plan to play the Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers is already being implemented. But an offence of sedition was not registered against Thackarey.
Therefore he sought a writ of certiorari or any other appropriate writ, to order and inquiry and register an FIR for the offence of breach of peace, public nuisance & sedition on the representation of the petitioner dated 04/05/2022 in the interest of public.
"This Hon'ble Court may kindly be restrained by an order or direction against respondent No. 4 to organize press conferences, tours, visits to various places in the State of Maharashtra on the issue of playing Hanuman Chalish on loudspeakers and from removing loud speakers from various mosques in the interest of public."