The Allahabad High Court has dismissed the plea seeking quashing
The Allahabad High Court has dismissed the plea seeking quashing of the FIR against poet Munnawar Rana, who had allegedly compared Lord Valmiki to Taliban.
Munnawar Rana v. State of UP
The Bench comprising of Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Saroj Yadav opined that the statement made by the poet has hurt the sentiments of the majority community.
“Sentiments of majority community have been hurt by unnecessary comparison drawn by the petitioner of Lord Valmiki with Taliban in disrespectful manner and without any material basis,” the order said.
An FIR was lodged by the President of Samajik Sarokar Foundation Uttar Pradesh under sections 153-A, 295-A, and 505 (1) (b) of the IPC and section 3 (1) (v) of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (Amendment, 2015).
The counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is a senior citizen and an Urdu poet of international eminence and repute. Counsel argued that some statements made by the petitioner during personal interaction with family and friends has been twisted and distorted by social media trolls therefore a deliberate attempt was made to give it a colour of criminal and communal nature.
He further submitted that the petitioner had not even referred to the name of Lord Valmiki and, thus, the question of him comparing Lord Valmiki with Taliban and hurting the statements of his devotee or\ any other religious sects does not arise at all.
The Additional Government Advocate submitted that the petitioner had made derogatory statements to promote feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will against one religion.
The court opined that alleged statements made by the petitioner show the prima facie offences under Sections 153-A, 295-A, 505 (1) (b) of IPC to be true.
Therefore, the court dismissed the plea to quash the FIR.
