SC asks Delhi Police to file charge sheet in hate speeches case

The Supreme Court on Monday took note of the submission of the Delhi Police that the probe in a case of hate speeches made at religious assemblies in the national capital in 2021 was at an advanced stage and asked them to place on record the charge sheet to be filed in the matterA bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud was told by Additional Solicitor General K M Nataraj appearing for the Delhi Police that they were expecting a Forensic Science Laboratory report on voice samples of accusedThe law officer said the probe agency will be filing a charge sheet in the matter shortlyThe additional solicitor general submitted that the investigation is now at an advanced stage The report of the voice sample is expected soon from the forensic lab A copy of the charge sheet be placed on records The matter in the first week of April the bench said in its orderEarlier on January 30 the city police had told the top court that the 2021 hate speeches matter was substantially completed and a final probe report would be filed shortlyThe hate speech case is related to a Hindu Yuva Vahini event organised in Delhi under the leadership of Suresh Chavhanke the editor of Sudarshan News in December 2021The top court meanwhile had asked the Delhi Police to file an affidavit giving details of the steps taken by them in the case so farAlso Read Adani issue SC refuses to accept petitioners suggestionLawyer Shadan Farasat appearing for activist Tushar Gandhi said the police had not taken any concrete steps to prevent such hate speechesOn January 13 the apex court posed a volley of questions to the Delhi Police over the delay in registration of FIR and no palpable progress made in the investigation of a case of hate speeches made at religious assemblies in the national capital in 2021 and had sought a report from the investigating officerThe top court was hearing a contempt petition filed by Gandhi alleging inaction by the Uttarakhand Police and Delhi Police in alleged hate speech casesOn November 11 last year the bench had discharged the Uttarakhand government and its police chief from a list of parties to the contempt pleaThe contempt petition was filed seeking punishment for the police chiefs of Delhi and Uttarakhand for their alleged inaction in the cases in violation of the apex court judgment in the Tehseen Poonawala caseIn the judgment the top court had laid down guidelines as to what action needed to be taken in hate crimes including mob lynchingIn his petition the activist sought contempt action against senior police officials for not taking any steps in accordance with the top courts guidelines meant to curb hate speeches and mob lynchingThe plea claimed immediately after the events took place the speeches were available in public domain but still the Uttarakhand Police and the Delhi Police did not act against the offendersThe hate speeches were made at the dharma sansad held in Haridwar from December 17 to 19 2021 and in Delhi on December 19 2021 the petition allegedThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever