SC orders stopping of investigation against US author

New Delhi, Apr 9 (UNI) The Supreme Court has restrained Maharashtra police from proceeding further against US professor James W Laine, the author of a controversial book containing some derogatory remarks against Maratha warrior Shivaji which led to an agitation in Pune by Shambhaji Brigade.

Prof Laine, a professor of religious studies, Macalester College, USA, has written a book titled as "Shivaji, Hindu king in Islamic India" which was relased in 2003. A case under sections 153, 153A and 34 IPC was registered at Deccan police station Pune.

A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices Lokeshwar Singh Panta and D K Jain in judgment dated April 5 observed,"Prof. James W. Laine, the author of the book has exercised his reason and his own analystical skills before choosing any literature which he intends to include in his book.

It is very improbable to imagine that any serious and intense scholar will attempt to malign the image of this glorious Institute." On January 5, 2004 a mob of about 100-125 people had ransacked the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (BORI), Pune and destroyed 18000 books and 30000 rare manuscripts.

The judgment had come on the appeals filed by Manzar Sayeed Khan, Attorney of Oxford University Press of India and Vinod Hansraj Goyal, Shahadra Delhi-based printer of the book which was later withdrawn from circulation.

Bombay High Court had dismissed the petitions seeking quashing of the FIR for trying to disturb the communal peace and harmony.

UNI