Bombay High Court orders police to examine alleged hate speech by BJP's Nitesh Rane, T Raja, Geeta Jain

The Bombay High Court on Monday ordered two police commissioners to personally examine videos of speeches delivered by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) Nitesh Rane, Geeta Jain and T Raja Singh in relation to the Mira Road violence of January 2024..A Bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Manjusha Deshpande remarked that it prima facie found from the speech transcript that some offence seemed to have been committed.However, in order to avoid any partiality or political pressure, it is best if the police commissioners personally examine the videos and transcripts of the speeches, the Court said..The petitioners also pointed out that Rane had held a press conference from the police commissioner’s office in Mira-Bhayander, which the Court found unacceptable.“Police premises should not be used for such events henceforth. It would lead to deterioration of confidence of citizens in police as also the trust that police are impartial,” the Bench remarked..Five residents from Mumbai, including two victims of the Mira Road violence, approached High Court with a petition raising grievance that no first information report (FIR) was registered by the police against the three leaders.The petition also highlighted that Rane visited other suburbs like Govandi and Malvani and gave more hate speeches. When local citizens approached the police for action against the MLAs, the police had purportedly registered an FIR for an offence under Section 188 (deliberate disobedience of order of public servant) of the Code of Criminal Procedure against the organisers of the event..Displeased, the Court remarked that such FIRs only reduced the police’s reputation, as it gave out a signal that anyone can hold a rally and say anything.“FIR under Section 188 is just watering down your own authority and reputation. Would the same action be taken if the petitioners come to Azad Maidan (in Mumbai) tomorrow and decide to hold a rally? And why couldn’t the rally be stopped midway if you find that it is happening illegally?”.Chief Public Prosecutor Hiten Venegaonkar for the State government responded that such cultural rallies, like those held annually on Ram Navami, were difficult to control and manage.However, the Court directed the police to ensure that no untoward incident happens during the upcoming Ram Navami festival on April 17.The petition has been posted for hearing on April 15..Senior Advocate Gayatri Singh appeared with Advocates Vijay Hiremath and Hamza Lakdawala for the petitioners.