PIL seeking judicial inquiry into Maharashtra violence filed

New Delhi, Nov 5 (UNI) A fresh Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed today in the Supreme Court seeking judicial inquiry by a sitting judge of either the Supreme Court or a High Court into the attacks on North Indians in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra, allegedly by the supporters of MNS chief Raj Thackeray.

The petitioner, Sanjeev Kumar Singh, an advocate, has also urged the apex court to order the arrest of Raj Thackeray under the National Security Act (NSA) for the attacks, especially for the killings of Rahul Raj and Dharam Dev Rai.

Mr Singh has also pleaded for transfer of all the cases registered against the MNS president for instigating violence against North Indians, particularly against the people of Bihar outside Maharashtra.

He also pleaded for cancellation of bail of Raj Thackeray and his prosecution for contempt of court as he had addressed a press conference in violation of the court orders directing him not to issue any press statement for two months. The petition also sought adequate protection for North Indians in Maharashtra.

On October 18, North Indian students who had gone there to appear in railway service selection test, were brutally attacked by MNS men.

The petitioner also alleged that Raj Thackeray was inciting violence against North Indians and his activities pose grave threat to national integrity as well as to rule of law in the country and said the Maharashtra government was not taking any effective action to control his illegal and unconstitutional activities.

UNI SC SLD DS1640