The Nungambakkam police in Chennai booked a case against BJP national secretary H. Raja on October 1 for allegedly making a malicious speech near the Valluvar Kottam on January 4, the Director-General of Police told the Madras High Court Bench here on Wednesday.
Special Government Pleader V.R. Shanmuganathan presented a copy of the First Information Report to a Division Bench of Justices V. Dhanapalan and V.M. Velumani, who were seized of a public interest litigation petition filed by advocate A. Abdul Habur of Madurai for a CBI probe. Mr. Shanmuganathan told the court that on a complaint filed by Poongundren of the Dravidar Kazhagam on March 22, the police registered the FIR under Sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and race) and 505 (making statements that could create enmity, hatred or ill-will between two classes) of the Indian Penal Code.
However, P. Rathinam, counsel for the petitioner, said the police had taken 10 months to register the case though the speech — reportedly made against DK founder E.V. Ramasamy as well as against Muslims and Christians — was very much available on YouTube.
The judges adjourned the hearing to Thursday for Assistant Solicitor-General G.R. Swaminathan to appear since the petitioner also sought a directive to the Union Home Ministry to act against all those who make “inflammatory and instigative speeches” and prevent YouTube from hosting such videos.
