The Maharashtra government informed the Bombay High Court that 67 FIRs have been registered across the state against religious leader Mahant Ramgiri Maharaj for his alleged derogatory remarks against Islam and Prophet Mohammed during an event in Nashik. The cybercrime police are currently taking down the objectionable content that was shared online.
Opposition to Petition Against CM Eknath Shinde
The government made these submissions while opposing a petition seeking the registration of an FIR against Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The petition, filed by advocate Mohammad Wasi Sayed and others, criticized Shinde for sharing a stage with Ramgiri Maharaj after the FIRs were filed against the religious leader. The petition also alleged a rise in communal incidents and Islamophobic practices in recent years.
Court's Observations and Dismissal of CM’s Involvement
Advocate Ejaz Naqvi, representing the petitioners, argued that instead of taking action against Ramgiri Maharaj, CM Shinde appeared alongside him and expressed support for saints in the state. Naqvi also pointed to BJP MLA Nitesh Rane’s inflammatory speeches, for which no action had been taken.
However, the bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Prithviraj Chavan noted that other petitions regarding hate speech by Ramgiri Maharaj and Nitesh Rane were already under consideration. The court stated that the police were registering FIRs and taking action where possible.
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Court Criticism and Petition Modifications
The bench dismissed the idea of filing an FIR solely because Shinde shared a stage with Ramgiri Maharaj, emphasizing that malafide intent must be proven. The court criticized the petition for digressing from its core issue, which was the removal of videos containing hate speech.
Maharashtra Advocate General Dr. Birendra Saraf opposed the petition, arguing that it was politically motivated and should not include the Chief Minister as a respondent. The court agreed, directing the petitioners to remove all respondents except the cyber police and local law enforcement from their plea.
The petition will be heard again on October 17.
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