Delhi riots: High Court rejects pleas over alleged hate speeches

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has dismissed a batch of petitions seeking criminal action against political leaders over alleged hate speeches linked to the 2020 North-East Delhi riots, along with pleas demanding an independent probe into the violence and alleged police excesses at Jamia Millia Islamia during the 2019 anti-CAA protests.

A division bench of Justices Vivek Chaudhary and Manoj Jain rejected the petitions, which had remained pending for more than six years. One of the pleas sought FIRs against BJP leaders Anurag Thakur, Kapil Mishra, Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma and Abhay Verma, alleging that their speeches contributed to the violence.

Another petition sought action against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Amanatullah Khan, and AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi, among others. A separate plea sought action against other political figures over alleged inflammatory speeches.

The court also rejected pleas seeking an independent or court-monitored investigation into the conduct of the Delhi Police, Rapid Action Force and other officials during the 2020 riots. CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat was among those who sought an independent inquiry into alleged police misconduct.

The batch also included petitions seeking an SIT probe into the December 2019 violence at Jamia Millia Islamia. Petitioners had alleged police atrocities and excessive use of force against students during the anti-CAA protests.

The High Court found no exceptional circumstances warranting fresh FIRs or an independent investigative mechanism. It also flagged an element of political selectivity in how certain leaders and speeches had been targeted, while noting that the proceedings had already been pending for years.