Anti-Bihari remarks: HC stays proceedings against Raj Thackeray

Says none of the complainants, on whose complaints trial court had summoned Maharashtra MNS chief Thackeray, are serious about pursuing the matter

The Delhi High Court today stayed the trial court proceedings against MNS chief Raj Thackeray in various cases lodged against him for allegedly making anti-Bihari remarks in 2008.

"The proceedings before the trial court are stayed," a bench of Justice Sunil Gaur said, adding that "it seems" none of the complainants, on whose complaints trial court had summoned Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Thackeray, are serious about pursuing the matter.

It also observed that none appeared in the case listed before this court.

Earlier, the court on February 12 had issued notice to the respondents-- eight persons who have filed separate complaints against Thackeray, and had sought their reply on the plea of the MNS chief.

Thackeray has moved the High Court seeking stay on the proceedings before a trial court and quashing of the criminal complaints against him for allegedly making inflammatory remarks.

Senior advocate Arvind Nigam, appearing for Thackeray, contended before the court that in absence of the sanction the proceedings before the trial court is unwarranted.

Earlier on January 30, 2013, the court had stayed execution of the non-bailable warrants (NBWs) and tagged the matter with several other similar petitions moved by the MNS chief. All these matters will now come up for hearing on October 12.

As per Thackeray's plea, complaints were filed against him in various places including Delhi, 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 IPC.