Supreme Court directs petitioner to approach Bombay High Court in inflammatory speech case against Raj Thackeray. The Court sharply remarked, "Is the High Court on holiday?" The petition was subsequently withdrawn.
Raj Thackeray speech Case: During the hearing in the Supreme Court on the petition filed against Raj Thackeray, there was a stir when the Chief Justice sharply questioned the petitioner's lawyer - "Is the Bombay High Court on holiday?" This remark came when the petitioner directly approached the Supreme Court, whereas the matter could have been raised in the High Court first.
Who is the petitioner and what is the case?
Sunil Shukla, National President of Uttar Bharatiya Vikas Sena, had filed a petition in the Supreme Court in which he accused Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray and his party workers of giving inflammatory speeches against North Indians and inciting violence.
Shukla claimed that after Raj Thackeray's speech, Hindi-speaking North Indians were attacked in various areas of Mumbai. He said that he was personally threatened and his party office was also attacked.
Supreme Court advises approaching Bombay High Court
During the hearing, the Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran asked the petitioner why he had not approached the Bombay High Court first. It was in this context that the Chief Justice sarcastically asked, "Is the Bombay High Court on holiday?"
The bench, without commenting on the merits of the petition, advised the petitioner to withdraw the petition and file it in the Bombay High Court. Subsequently, Shukla's lawyer withdrew the petition from the Supreme Court.
What are the allegations in the petition?
Sunil Shukla also claimed in the petition that he had lodged several complaints with the Maharashtra government, police chief, police commissioner, and election commission on this issue, but no FIR was registered on any of the complaints.
According to Shukla, Raj Thackeray gave an inflammatory speech against Hindi-speaking North Indians at a Gudi Padwa rally on March 30. After that, Hindi-speaking employees were attacked in areas like Powai, Versova, and D-Mart in Mumbai.
Allegations of threats and attacks
The petition also stated that Shukla received death threats before and after the speech. He was publicly threatened on X (formerly Twitter) and received calls from more than 100 unknown numbers. Besides, on October 6, 2024, about 30 MNS workers tried to attack his party office and damaged property.
Questions raised on administrative action
Shukla also alleged that the state administration and police did not take his complaints seriously. He repeatedly tried to file a complaint, but no concrete steps were taken by the administration. Due to this, he approached the Supreme Court.
