New Delhi – Metropolitan Magistrate Jitendra Pratap Singh of Saket District Court issued a notice to the Govindpuri Police Station and sought action taken report (ATR) on Thursday in a case of hate speech against Suresh Chavahnke, anchor of Sudarshan TV channel. The case will be heard next on March 15.
The complainant in the case, a public-spirited citizen, first approached the police. But soon he lost hope of any worthwhile action from the police after seeing no progress in the case. The cops simply kept on procrastinating on his complaint. Even a representation to the Deputy Commissioner of Police of South East District through email drew a blank.
Realising that the police were typically dillydallying and are unlikely to take any legal action in the case, the complainant, Syed Qasim Rassool Ilyas, filed a petition in Saket District Court with the help of Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR). In the petition, he sought directions to the police for registration of FIR and the arrest of the accused as per the law on the complaint dated December 25, 2021 to prevent any incidents of violence due to his hate-speech.
The complainant, Syed Qasim Rassool Ilyas, approached the APCR for legal advice and assistance in the case in December last year. With the help of the counsels provided by the APCR, a complaint was drafted and filed under Sections 153A, 153B, 295A, 298, and 504, 505(2) and 506 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 against Suresh Chavhanke in the Govindpuri Police Station on December 25, 2021.
An inquiry officer was assigned to look into the matter no. 89550022102594. However, no action was forthcoming from the police despite the gravity of the offence.
No preliminary inquiry was required in the case as the inflammatory, communally surcharged speeches were made by the accused during public events video footages of which are in the public domain.
Suresh Chavhanke had made a speech on 19th December 2021 at an event organised by ‘Hindu Yuva Vahini’ at Banarasidas Chandiwala Auditorium near Govindpuri Metro Station, New Delhi where he endorsed violence against religious minorities. His speech was in clear violation of the law as it amounted to disrupting communal harmony, inciting hatred against a community, discrimination and is prejudicial to national integrity.
“Despite all the available electronic evidences against Suresh Chavahnke and after approaching all the ranks of police hierarchy, no action was taken on my complaint in due time,” lamented Ilyas, adding, “The laxity of Delhi Police (DP) forced us to move the hon’ble court for seeking appropriate legal remedy in the interest of justice.”
He thanked the APCR team for giving him pro bono legal assistance through advocates, Tara Narula and Tamanna Pankaj.
Of late, there has been an avalanche of hate speeches in the country. The venomous campaign of Hindutva hate mongers against their opponents in general and Muslims in particular. These hate mongers seek to do away with everything that our vibrant society stands for, the unity in diversity of great nation undermining our socially cohesive common heritage.
Among these hate mongers, Suresh Chavahnke is a prominent name. A habitual offender, Chavahnke is quite notorious for spewing venom against Muslims on his TV shows
The Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) is vigilant in the fight against hate and has been advocating against hate speech and hate crimes for a long time to mitigate the menace of hatred in the country. We also provide legal assistance to victims of hate-based crimes and discrimination. We firmly believe in our constitutional scheme and are working to preserve it to harness justice for all.
This story first appeared on clarionindia.net