The Rouse Avenue Court Complex in Delhi has today directed the police to file an action taken report on the complaint filed by a Communist Party of India member, Brinda Karat against the Bharatiya Janata Party leaders Anurag Thakur and Parvesh Verma, for their alleged hate speeches, while campaigning for Delhi Assembly elections. Furthermore, the Delhi Police in its status report stated that the Crime Branch has been looking into the complaint while the same is being monitored by the Special Commissioner of Police.
The Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Vishal Pahuja granted the Delhi Police Crime Branch 15 days to conclude its inquiry in the plea filed by CPI-M leaders Brinda Karat and KM Tewari. The two leaders have sought a direction to the Parliament Street Police Station to register an FIR against Anurag Thakur and Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma for the commission of offenses under Sections 153A/153B/295A/298/504/506 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.
“The hate speeches by the two BJP leaders during the election campaign have incited communal enmity and led to multiple incidents of violence against protestors at Shaheen Bagh and Jamia Milia Islamia University,” stated the plea.
As per reports, the two BJP leaders Anurag Thakur and Parvesh Verma had made controversial statements during the Delhi Assembly Election campaign on several occasions. Reportedly, Parvesh Verma during the election rallies had allegedly stated “what happened in Kashmir with Kashmiri Pandits could happen in Delhi,” and that the protesters at Shaheen Bagh ‘will enter your houses, rape your sisters and daughters.’ He further claimed that this can be prevented if the BJP is elected in the February polls. On the other hand, Anurag Thakur while campaigning for elections was heard provoking the crowd to raise an incendiary slogan “traitors should be shot” referring to the anti-CAA protesters.
Subsequently, the CPI-M leaders approached the court after their written complaints to the Commissioner of Police (dated 29 and 31 January) as well as the SHO Parliament Street (dated February 2), had failed to elicit any response.
Taking cognizance of the matter, the Election Commission had earlier barred Anurag Thakur from campaigning in the Delhi Assembly polls for three days and BJP MP Parvesh Verma for four days for their controversial remarks.
Further, the court has scheduled the next hearing of the matter on 26 February.
