Delhi Court orders police probe into Rana Ayyub's tweets about Hindu deities, Savarkar

A Delhi Court has ordered police investigation into journalist Rana Ayyub’s tweets on X about Hindu deities and Vinayak Damodar Savarkar that allegedly outraged and insulted the religious sentiments of Hindus [Mrs. Amita Sachdeva Vs. State (NCT of Delhi) & Anr.]..Chief Judicial Magistrate Himanshu Raman Singh of the Saket Court directed the police to convert the contents of a complaint filed by lawyer Amita Sachdeva into a First Information Report (FIR) and investigate the matter.“In view of the facts and circumstances , the complaint discloses commission of cognizable offences for which an FIR is warranted. Present SHO Cyber Police Station, South is directed convert the contents of complaint as FIR and investigate the matter fairly,” the Court directed. .The Court observed that prima facie offences under Section 153A (hate speech), 295A (hurting religious sentiments) and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) of Indian Penal Code were made out, warranting police investigation. “The facts pleaded by complainant are such which necessitate intervention of State machinery in the form of police investigation,” the Court observed. .Sachdeva initially filed a complaint under Section 66A of the Information Technology Act with the Cyber Cell of Delhi Police stating that Ayyub’s tweets insulted Hindu Gods and spread anti-India sentiments. It was stated in the complaint that Ayyub’s tweets “reveal an agenda to systematically mock and demean Hindu beliefs, insult India, and spread communal discord.”Sachdeva stated that due to police inaction in initiating investigation, she moved the Magistrate’s Court.The Action Taken Report (ATR) of the Cyber Cell police stated that only a non-cognizable offence was made out from Ayyub’s post since offence under Section 66A of the IT Act was struck down by the Supreme Court in the Shreya Singhal judgment..However, the Court observed that the gravity of the allegations calls for police investigation.“Considering the gravity of the allegations, the Court is of the view that it is expedient to order investigation in the present matter in exercise of the judicial power under Section 156(3) CrPC,” the Court stated. The matter will be considered today for compliance with court’s order..[Read Order]