A Delhi court on Wednesday sought a report from the city police on a lawyer’s plea for lodging a criminal case against Janata Party Chief Subramanian Swamy for allegedly making anti-Muslim remarks in a recent newspaper article.
“The Station House Officer of Tilak Marg police station is directed to file the status report on August 16,” Metropolitan Magistrate Navita Kumari Bagha said.
Dr Swamy’s article had kicked up a row by allegedly suggesting that conditions be imposed on the voting rights of Muslims in India.
The court’s direction came following a brief argument by advocate R K Anand, contending that a prima facie case was made out against Dr Swamy for his “anti-minority” write-up published in an English daily.
Earlier, a Delhi-based lawyer Asghar Khan had moved the court seeking registration of a criminal case against Dr Swamy alleging that by his “anti-Muslim” remarks, he promoted strife and hatred between different communities.
“The statement made by Dr Subramanian Swamy is extremely seditious and has been made with the intention to promote enmity between different groups on the ground of religion, race, place of birth, residence etc,” the advocate had said in his complaint.
He had said “the statements are prejudicial to harmony and national integrity, which is an offence under the Indian Penal Code.”
Mr. Khan had said such statements are against the fundamentals of the constitution which provide for non-discrimination on the basis of religion or place of birth.
