Anti-Bihari remarks: HC extends order staying NBWs against MNS

In a breather to MNS chief Raj Thackeray, the Delhi High Court today said its earlier order staying the issuance of non-bailable warrants (NBWs) will continue till August 11 in cases lodged against him for allegedly making anti-Bihari statements.
"The operation of stay against the NBWs is extended till August 11," Justice Veena Birbal said after hearing brief arguments on Thackeray's plea.
The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief has moved the High Court seeking quashing of the criminal complaints against him for allegedly making inflammatory remarks.
Earlier, on January 30 last year, the court had stayed the execution of NBWs and had tagged the matter with several other similar petitions moved by the MNS chief.

On March 7 last, the court had exempted Thackeray from appearing before a trial court here.
All the matters will now come up for hearing on August 11.

As per Thackeray's plea, a complaint was filed against him in Garwah, Jharkhand, 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 he failed to appear.

Various similar complaints were filed at other places in Bihar and Jharkhand.
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 courts in Jharkhand and in Bihar.