Delhi HC stays non-bailable warrants against Raj Thackeray over anti-Bihari remarks

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court today extended its earlier order staying non-bailable warrants(NBWs) against MNS chief Raj Thackeray till 31 August in cases lodged against him for allegedly making anti-Bihari remarks in 2008. Justice VP Vaish extended the “operation of stay against the NBWs” after Thackeray’s counsel inform the court that the other bench is also hearing similar pleas against the accused, so it should list it alongwith with that only. [caption id=“attachment_1659571” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Raj Thackeray. Parag Shinde/Firstpost[/caption] Earlier in the day senior advocate Arvind Nigam, appearing for Thackeray, told Justice Pratibha Rani, who was also hearing the MNS chief’s plea against the trial court’s summoning order, that connected matters are listed before another bench. “Let one bench hear the case,” Nigam submitted. To which Justice Rani adjourned the matter for 31 August, saying let the matter be heard by one bench. The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief has moved the High Court seeking quashing of the criminal complaints against him for allegedly making inflammatory remarks. On 30 January last year, the court had stayed the execution of NBWs issued against him. On 7 March last, the court had exempted Thackeray from appearing before a trial court here. In this regard there are around 10 matters, which will now come up for hearing on 31 August, 2014. As per Thackeray’s plea, a complaint was filed against him in various states including Delhi, Garwah, Jharkhand and Bihar in 2008 under sections 153A (promoting enmity between classes), 153B (assertions prejudicial to national integration), 295A (maliciously insulting religion of any class), 500 (defamation) and 504 (insult intended to provoke breach of peace) of the IPC. The complaint alleged that he allegedly made inflammatory speeches against people of Bihar. A magisterial court first issued summons and then arrest warrants as Thackeray failed to appear. Thackeray then moved the Supreme Court which stayed the proceedings and transferred the cases to Delhi. Subsequently, the MNS leader moved the High Court seeking quashing of the criminal complaints in the trial court here as well as the summoning orders and non-bailable warrants issued by the lower court in Jharkhand and in Bihar. PTI