Jamshedpur: A court in Delhi has disposed a case against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray related to objectionable remarks by him at an event 16 years ago after Thackeray apologised for his remarks. The Tis Hazari Court of Justice Jasmeet Singh disposed the case by accepting the Thackeray's apology in the case.
The petition against Thackeray was filed by Sudhir Kumar Pappu, an advocate of Jamshedpur Civil Court. The petition was initially filed by Sudhir against Thackeray in the court of Honorable Chief Judicial Magistrate, Jamshedpur on Mar. 13, 2007, two days after he filed a complaint against Thackeray at Sonari police station.
The petitioner said that he was compelled to approach the court due to inaction by the police on the complaint. Sudhir alleged that on March 9, 2007 during the celebrations of the foundation day of MNS at Sion Shanmukhanand Auditorium, Mumbai, Raj Thackeray had threatened north Indians. Thackeray, he said, had asked north Indians to “respect Marathas in Maharashtra, otherwise be prepared for a slap and be chased away by holding their ears”.
Also read: Raj Thackeray slapped with non-bailable warrant again
On Apr. 11, 2007, summon was issued against MNS chief Raj Thackeray by the Court taking cognizance under sections 153A, 153B and 504 of the Indian Penal Code. However, MNS chief Raj Thackeray through his advocate filed several petitions in the Supreme Court and the High Court of Jharkhand while demanding to transfer the case to Delhi due to apprehension of law and order.
In one of the petitions filed in the Supreme Court on Sept. 30, 2011, Raj Thackeray told the apex court that he did not have any difficulty in appearing in the court of Jharkhand, “but an opinion be sought from the Jharkhand government on law and order” due to hearings in the case. Following an adverse report over the matter, the Supreme Court transferred the case from Jamshedpur Court to Tis Hazari Court in Delhi.
A non-bailable warrant was issued against MNS chief Raj Thackeray by the Delhi court on Dec. 16, 2012, and a letter was issued to the Mumbai commissioner asking him to ensure his arrest. Against the court's order, MNS chief Raj Thackeray filed a petition in the Delhi High Court under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure to stay the non-bailable warrant and quash the case.
Anupam Lal Das, advocate appearing for Raj Thackeray on Thursday offered an unconditional apology on behalf of Thackeray in the Delhi court. The court of Justice Jasmeet Singh of Delhi High Court accepted the apology by MNS chief Raj Thackeray and disposed off the case. On the order of Delhi High Court, petitioner advocate Sudhir Kumar Pappu said that it is a “victory for honor of North Indians, Biharis and Hindi speakers”.
He expressed his gratitude to the courts and his supporters for the victory.
