The Delhi Court has refused to give directions for
the registration of an FIR against Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge. However,
the court has taken cognizance of the Complaint alleging hate speech against
BJP and RSS in an election rally in Karnataka in April 2023.
Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Chatinder
Singh after hearing the submissions by the complainant's counsel and
considering the Action Taken Report (ATR) by Delhi Police refused to give
directions for the registration of FIR.
The Court said that the alleged accused is already identified
and all evidence is with the complainant. There is no need for FIR.
"Hence, there is no need for investigation by
the Police under Section. 156(3) Cr. P.C. in this case. Application is hereby
dismissed," JMFC Chatinder Singh said in an order passed on December 9.
However, the court has taken the Cognizance of the
complaint filed by Advocate Ravinder Gupta, a member of RSS.
JMFC said, " However, the cognizance of the
complaint is taken."
The Court said that the complainant is at liberty to
lead pre-summoning evidence (PSE). In case any requirement of investigation
arises at a later stage related to some disputed facts the provision of section
202 Cr.PC could be resorted to be put up for PSE on 27.03.2025.
The complainant filed a Complaint through advocate
Gagan Gandhi.
The Court noted that the allegation is that Kharge
made some speech in an election rally wherein scathing remarks were made
against the BJP and RSS, further complaint is feeling aggrieved since he is a
member of RSS.
The complainant is in possession of the complete
details of the accused persons as well as the witnesses who are to be examined
and neither recovery is needed nor any such material evidence is required to be
collected which can be done only by the police.
"The true test to use the discretionary power
to order an investigation by police under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C is not whether
any cognizable offence is committed or not, but whether an investigation by
police agency is required or not," the court observed.
The court said that in the present case all the
material is available with the complainant and no technical or complex
investigation is required by the police.
Later, in case the Court find it necessary that an
investigation by the police is required it can resort to Section 202 Cr.P.C for
that purpose, the court said.In light of the facts and circumstances of the
present complaint, there is no need to invoke Section 156(3) Cr.P.C for issuing
directions to register an FIR against the alleged accused persons.
There is no need for registration of FIR as the
identity of the alleged accused person is ascertained. No facts are needed to
be unearthed as the same is well within the knowledge of the complainant.
Custodial interrogation of the alleged accused is not necessary.
The court said that the evidence was well within the
reach of the complainant and no assistance of police is required to gather the
same.
"The facts of the case are not such that would
warrant a detailed and complex investigation to be carried out by the State Agency,"
the court said.
It is alleged that the accused gave a hate speech on
27.04.2023 wherein the alleged accused passed a scathing remark against PM
Narendra Modi while addressing an election rally at Naregal, Gadag, Karnataka.
It is further stated in the complaint that later on
the same day the alleged accused in other election rallies clarified that his
statement was not against the Prime Minister but against the BJP and RSS.
Furthermore being a member of RSS the complainant is feeling defamed since he
is an ardent follower and active member of RSS.
The complainant had prayed for the registration of
an FIR against the alleged accused persons. The court had called for an Action
Taken Report (ATR) which was filed by Police (PS) Station Subzi Mandi.
It was submitted by the investigation officer (IO)
that the speech was made an election rally in Naregal, Karnataka and no offence
was committed in the jurisdiction of PS Subzi Mandi.