Derogatory Words Against Prime Minister Doesn't Constitute Offence of Sedition: Delhi Police to Court on Complaints Against Mani Shankar Aiyar
A person who used derogatory words against the Prime Minister of India cannot be booked for sedition, the Delhi Police said on Thursday in action taken report (ATR) submitted to a court.
New Delhi, September 20: A person who used derogatory words against the Prime Minister of India cannot be booked for sedition, the Delhi Police said on Thursday in action taken report (ATR) submitted to a court. The ATR was submitted in connection with complaints seeking action against Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar on charges of sedition. The Delhi Police also sought dismissal of the complaint. Uddhav Thackeray Hits Out at Mani Shankar Aiyar For Comments Against Savarkar in 2018, Says 'Congress Leader Should Be Beaten With Shoes'.
"Mere uttering a derogatory word, without more overt act, against PM of India did not constitute an offence under IPC sections 124-A/153-A," the Crime Branch of Delhi Police told Metropolitan Magistrate Vasundhara Azad. Section 124-A of the Indian Penal Code refers to sedition and Section 153-A is about promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence or language. 'Non-Gandhi' Can Be Congress Chief, But Gandhi Family Must Remain Active in Party, Says Mani Shankar Aiyar.
Advocate Ajay Agarwal had filed two complaints against Mani Shankar Aiyar before the court. In one complaint, he accused Aiyar of making derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The second complaint was a meeting hosted by Aiyar at his residence where Pakistan High Commissioner and a former Pakistan Foreign Minister had also arrived. Agarwal alleged that those present had conspired against India.
Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and former Vice President Hamid Ansari were also present in the meeting. Agarwal, who contested the 2014 Lok Sabha election against UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi from Rae Bareli, had also said that the Ministries of External Affairs and Home were not informed about the meeting despite India's strained relations with Pakistan.
The Delhi Police sought dismissal of both the complaints. On the matter alleging conspiracy against India by those present at Aiyar's residence, the police said: "The complainant is only assuming this and no such evidence has come on record to show the conspiracy till now." The ATR also mentioned that "it is submitted that breaking protocol, if any, does not attract any penal provision under IPC or any other local & special law".
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 20, 2019 11:22 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).