In a major relief to SP leader Akhilesh Yadav and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, a Varanasi court has rejected a plea to file a case against them over a ‘controversial remark’ on the purported Shivling found inside the Gyanvapi mosque. Earlier, this month, the court of additional chief judicial magistrate-V (MP-MLA) Ujjwal Upadhyaya reserved an order in the petition seeking the filing of a case against the leaders.
Notably, the plea under Section 156 (3) CrPC was filed by senior lawyer Harishankar Pandey, a resident of Varanasi, in May 2022. Pandey, in his application, sought the registration of a case against Akhilesh Yadav and Asaduddin Owaisi for ‘inciting religious hatred’ by making controversial remarks on the purported Shivling. The plea further stated that the leaders ‘hurt the sentiments’ of Hindus with their ‘objectionable remarks’ on the Shivling.
Pandey had alleged that Akhilesh Yadav and Asaduddin Owaisi made ‘objectionable remarks on the Shivling in TV shows and on social media which hurt the sentiments of Hindus’.
Earlier this month, Pandey had informed that with the completion of arguments, the court had set February 14 as the next date for further proceedings. “The order in this petition would likely be delivered on February 14,” Pandey said.
In November 2022, Additional chief judicial magistrate-V held as maintainable a plea seeking registration of a case against Akhilesh Yadav and Asaduddin Owaisi over the same. “Points on the maintainability of the case have been heard. The application is being accepted for further hearing at this stage,” said ACJM-V Ujjawal Upadhyay.
