SC asks Raj Thackeray to desist from making hate speeches

The observations by the Bench was made during the petition filed by Thackeray seeking shifting of the three cases filed in Madhya Pradesh,Bihar and Jharkhand recently against him to the national capital.

“What is the guarantee that in future you will not make such statements,” the Bench said while issuing notices to those who have filed private complaints against the MNS chief for his alleged action and speeches promoting animosity among citizens.

The case filed in Mandasor in Madhya Pradesh was in connection with the incident in which Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azami was slapped by MNS legislators in the Maharashtra Assembly allegedly at the instance of Thackeray. The other two cases have been filed against him in Aurangabad in Bihar and Jamshedpur in Jharkhand for his alleged inflammatory speeches against north Indians

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi,appearing for the MNS chief,pointed to the earlier order of the apex court by which cases lodged against him in different parts of the country were shifted to Delhi.

The apex court on January 8 had shifted to Delhi’s Tis Hazari Court seven cases registered against Thackeray in Jharkhand and Bihar for promoting animosity among citizens by his alleged hate speeches against north Indians. Rohatgi had submitted that the cases against Thackeray were ‘politically motivated’ and there was apprehension that he will not get a fair trial in the two states.