New Delhi: On Monday, the Supreme Court rejected Amish journalist Devgan’s request to annul the first information reports (FIRs) filed against him for his alleged derogatory comments against the Sufi saint Moinuddin Chishti.
Seven FIRs have been registered against the television journalist in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Telangana when he described the Sufi saint as an “attacker” and “lootera ” (thief) during a debate he featured on his show ‘Aar Par’ on June 15. The program was discussing Public Interest Litigation (PIL) regarding the Special Provision Law on Places of Worship.
While refusing to void the FIRs, a bench of Judge AM Khanwailkar and Judge Sanjiv Khanna beat all the FIRs and transferred them to Ajmer, Rajasthan. The judges added that the suspension of the coercive action offered to him on July 8 would continue if he cooperated with the investigation.
The FIRs filed against Devgan have invoked sections 295A (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious sentiments of any class by insulting their religion or religious beliefs), 153A (Promotion of enmity between different groups on the grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and the performance of acts detrimental to the maintenance of harmony), 505 (Declarations that lead to grievances) and 34 (Acts carried out by several people in compliance with the common intention) of the Penal Code of India (CPI). Devgan’s attorney, Vivek Jain, filed a petition in the supreme court requesting that the FIRs be annulled.
Devgan had already apologized for his comments against the Sufi saint, saying they were due to “an inadvertent mistake.”
On Twitter, the journalist said: “In one of my debates, I inadvertently referred to ‘Khilji’ as Chishti. I sincerely apologize for this grave mistake and the anguish it may have caused the followers of the Sufi saint Moinuddin Chisthi, whom to revere. In the past, I have sought blessings on your dargah. I’m sorry for this mistake. “
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