Legal experts to Delhi Police: No hate speech at Hindu Sena event

On Sunday, the New Delhi district police said they stopped the speakers at the mahapanchayat and asked them to leave after they spoke “against one community”.

hindu sena mahapanchayat cancelled delhi police fir

The police had initially allowed the mahapanchayat and allowed 100 people to sit and protest. However, they had to intervene after the alleged hate speeches, they said. (File)

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Two days after the Delhi Police cancelled a Hindu Sena mahapanchayat which was underway at Jantar Mantar after speakers at the gathering allegedly started making hate speeches, legal experts have advised the investigation officer to file an FIR under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against the organiser as they have not found any content of hate speech, The Indian Express has learnt.

Meanwhile, a case under section 188 has been registered against the organisers of All India Sanatan Foundation for not taking permission from the police and holding the mahapanchayat last week.

Police said they had allowed a gathering of only around 100 people, in a controlled manner, but the speakers and participants violated the norms. “We are awaiting final legal opinion in the matter. For now, a case under disobedience to order has been registered…” said an officer.

Section 188 of the IPC pertains to disobedience to an order duly promulgated by a public servant.

The mahapanchayat was organised by the All India Sanatan Foundation and the Hindu Sena in the wake of the clashes in Haryana’s Nuh last month. Those present at the event at Jantar Mantar on Sunday, amid heavy police barricading, included Hindu Sena national president Vishnu Gupta, Raksha Dal’s Pinky Chaudhary and Dasna Devi temple priest Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati.

The New Delhi district police said they stopped the speakers at the event and asked them to leave after they spoke “against one community”.

An official said the New Delhi district police discussed the matter with senior officers at the Delhi Police headquarters and they were asked to take legal opinion. “On Monday evening, the police received a legal opinion in which they have been told that they have not found any content of hate speech and they should take legal action against the organiser for violating the norms of the conditions,” the official said, adding that the police will send their case file to the legal experts again with more facts to take another opinion in the coming days.

Mahender Singh Manral

Mahender Singh Manral is an Assistant Editor with the national bureau of The Indian Express. He is known for his impactful and breaking stories. He covers the Ministry of Home Affairs, Investigative Agencies, National Investigative Agency, Central Bureau of Investigation, Law Enforcement Agencies, Paramilitary Forces, and internal security. Prior to this, Manral had extensively reported on city-based crime stories along with that he also covered the anti-corruption branch of the Delhi government for a decade. He is known for his knack for News and a detailed understanding of stories. He also worked with Mail Today as a senior correspondent for eleven months. He has also worked with The Pioneer for two years where he was exclusively covering crime beat. During his initial days of the career he also worked with The Statesman newspaper in the national capital, where he was entrusted with beats like crime, education, and the Delhi Jal Board. A graduate in Mass Communication, Manral is always in search of stories that impact lives. ... Read More

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