Hate speeches played in Delhi HC, judges ask for FIRs against 3 BJP leaders

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday (February 26) directed the police to take “conscious decision” with respect to the lodging of FIRs against alleged hate speeches by three Bharatiya Janta Party leaders in connection with the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) violence and convey by Thursday (February 27).

A bench of Justices S Muralidhar and Anup J Bhambhani took on record the assurance by special commissioner Praveer Ranjan that he will sit with the police commissioner today itself and view all video clips and take a conscious decision on lodging of FIRS.

The alleged hate speeches by the three BJP leaders — Kapil Mishra, Anurag Thakur, and Parvesh Verma — were played in open court during a hearing seeking FIRs against those inciting and participating in the violence over the CAA for the fourth consecutive day that has already claimed 23 lives and injured nearly 200 people.

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The videos were played in a tension-filled courtroom after a policeman informed the court that he has seen videos of the violence, but not of Mishra’s, the judge said, “This is really concerning. There are so many TVs in your office, how can police officer say that he hasn’t watched the videos. I’m really appalled by the state of affairs of Delhi Police.”

The high court also issued notices to the parties concerned on the plea filed by the Centre seeking to be impleaded in the case.

The court was hearing a plea filed by retired bureaucrat Harsh Mander on violence in which the petitioner, retired bureaucrat Harsh Mander, sought judicial enquiry into the incidents of violence, FIR against the culprits, deployment of army and compensation for the victims.

For the Delhi Police, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appeared and requested the matter to be postponed till tomorrow, seeking to make Union of India a party in the case. “Can’t this matter wait for 16 more hours?” said Mehta.

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In response to Mehta, Justice Muralidhar said, “Isn’t lodging of FIRs against the culprits an urgent matter? The situation out there is very unpleasant.”

“There are videos that hundreds of people have watched. Do you still think it’s not an urgent matter?” asked the judge.

Rahul Mehra, who is the petitioner’s lawyer, made an objection and said that the Liutantent General cannot authorise “Solicitor General to appear on behalf of Delhi Police without the aid and advice of Delhi government. It’s against the rule of law.”

The matter will be heard further on Thursday.

(With inputs from agencies)