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The case was brought by Sunil Shukla, National President of the Uttar Bharatiya Vikas Sena, a political party focused on the welfare of underprivileged North Indian inhabitants in Maharashtra.
Raj Thackeray and Supreme Court
The Supreme Court on Monday declined to entertain a petition seeking registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) Chief Raj Thackeray and de-recognition of the party over his alleged hate speech targeting the Hindi-speaking population [Sunil Shukla vs. Union of India and Ors.].
A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran instructed the petitioner's attorney to approach the Bombay High Court first.
The petitioner Sunil Shukla, National President of the Uttar Bharatiya Vikas Sena, then sought a permission to withdraw the claim. The request was granted.
"Learned counsel asks liberty to withdraw the petition with liberty to approach the jurisdictional High Court. We clarify that we have not expressed any opinion on merits,” the Court noted in the order.
CJI BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran Shukla in the appeal had claimed that in March 2025, during a Gudi Padwa demonstration, Thackeray made an overtly offensive remark that incited violence against North Indians, specifically targeting those engaged in public-facing professions who did not speak Marathi.
The remark, carried on a television channel, allegedly led to a rash of violence against Hindi-speaking workers in Mumbai, including occurrences at Powai and Versova, Shukla claimed.
Shukla further alleged that he was personally threatened with death on social media and had received over 100 anonymous calls threatening his life. He also reported that on October 6, 2024, a gang of roughly 30 men linked with MNS allegedly attempted to ransack the party office of Uttar Bhartiya Vikas Sena in Mumbai.
Despite several written complaints to Maharashtra’s Chief Minister, key police officers and the Election Commission of India, no FIRs were lodged and no security was offered to him or his party members, Shukla stated.
Advocates Abid Ali Beeran, Sriram Parakkat, Anandhu S Nair and Maneesha Sunil Kumar appeared on behalf of the petitioner
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