Remark Comparing 'Maharshi Valmiki' To 'Taliban': Allahabad High Court Refuses To Quash FIR Against Poet Munnawar Rana

The Allahabad High Court has refused to quash the FIR registered against Urdu Poet Munawwar Rana for his remark made to a news channel comparing Maharshi Valmiki, who wrote the Ramayana, to the Taliban.

The Bench of Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Saroj Yadav observed thus:

"Sentiments of majority community have been hurt by an unnecessary comparison drawn by the petitioner of Lord Valmiki with Taliban in a disrespectful manner and without any material basis."

On the occupation of Taliban in Afghanistan, Munawwar Rana had said to a news channel, 'Taliban will become Valmiki after ten years; Valmiki was a writer and in the Hindu religion, any one can be said to be a God"

For his remark, an FIR has been registered against him in Hazratganj Kotwali of Lucknow under SC/ST Act on a complaint by the All India Hindu Mahasabha and the Samajik Sarokar Foundation.

Significantly, the Ambedkar Mahasabha had also demanded that a case should be registered against Munawwar Rana for his alleged remark. The FIR against him mentions the offences under Section 153-A, 501(1)-B, and 295-A. 

Observing his remark and related circumstances, the Court observed thus:

"A perusal of the contents of the aforesaid alleged statements of the petitioner would show that prima facie, offences under Sections 153-A, 295-A, 505 (1) (b) I.P.C. are fully made out as sentiments of majority community have been hurt by an unnecessary comparison drawn by the petitioner of Lord Valmiki with Taliban in a disrespectful manner and without any material basis. The petitioner has taken all sorts of grounds that the offences alleged against him are not made out. However, the fact remains that the petitioner had not been vigilant and has acted irresponsibly by making the aforesaid derogatory statement."

Lastly, noting that it did not think it would be appropriate at this stage to quash the FIR as it stalls the investigation into all the relevant aspects and that it cannot be said that no prima facie offence whatsoever is made out against the petitioner, the Court refused to quash the impugned F.I.R.

Case title - Munnawar Rana v. State Of U.P. Thru. Prin. Secy. Home. Lko & Others 

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