BJP Maharashtra chief accused in 2 hate speech cases: Police tell HC

Mumbai: BJP state vice president Vikram Pawaskar was named accused in two hate speeches registered in Sangali district of Maharashtra last year, Maharashtra police informed Bombay High Court.

Police gave the details responding to a plea seeking action against the BJP leader over hate speech after they reportedly led to attack on a mosque and a communal violence in Satara district in September last year, according to The Indian Express.

One Shakir Isalal Tamboli in a plea sought action to prosecute and arrest Pawaskar, who according to the report, allegedly, “conspired to commit communal violence”.

A division bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Shyam C Chandak heard the plea.

Meanwhile, the court in February this year questioned the police regarding insufficient action in the case.

Tamboli claimed that police had not filed chargesheet against Pawaskar while charging some of the accused persons in both cases.

The petitioner also told the court that police had not taken any immediate action against Pawaskar, nevertheless committing two hate speeches from January to June last year.

Also, it is reported that Public Prosecutor Hiten Venegaonkar representing Maharashtra Police stated on June 19 that chargesheet was to be filed for offences punishable under sections 153A (promoting enmity between groups) and 295A (defiling place of worship) of IPC in two cases registered in Sangli and “in both the cases Pawaskar has been arrayed as an accused.”

Venegaonkar also submitted that chargesheet could not be filed, nevertheless they were ready, as sanction from concerned authority was pending and sought four weeks to avail sanction.

The bench, reportedly, accepted it and posted the matter for further hearing to July 18.

He also submitted that police filed chargesheet in two FIRs in Satara, adding that role of Pawaskar is yet to be probed in one of the cases which will be finished within six weeks.