On 6th September, 2021 the Allahabad High Court refused to quash the F.I.R against the Urdu poet Munnawar Rana for a remark he made in front of the press in which he compared Maharishi Valmiki and the Taliban.
The Bench of Hon’ble judges, Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Saroj Yadav observed that the remark made by the accused had hurt the sentiments of the majority community and the comparison was an unnecessary remark.
BACKGROUND
Munnawar Rana, an Urdu poet on being asked to comment on the occupation of Afghanistan by the Taliban stated that “Taliban will become Valmiki after ten years; Valmiki was a writer and in the Hindu religion, any one can be said to be a God."
The All India Hindu Mahasabha and Samajik Sarokar Foundation filed an F.I.R against the poet in Hazratganj Kotwali of Lucknow under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
ACCUSATIONS
The above-mentioned organizations have filed the case against the poet on the basis of Section 153-A, 501 (1)-B and 295 -A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.
OBSERVATIONS OF THE COURT
The court held that the case filed against the accused under Section 153-A, 501 (1)-B and 295 -A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 is prima facie relevant since the sentiments of the majority community have been hurt by the callous remarks of the accused.
On the grounds that the applicant had not been careful with his statements in front of the media, and was disrespectful, the High Court refused to quash the F.I.R, even though the petitioner tried to prove his innocence.
