NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Delhi police to inform as to what steps have been taken during investigation into the cases of hate speeches made at religious assemblies in the national capital in December, 2021.

“Why do you need five months for lodging an FIR? How many arrests have been made in the case," a bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice P S Narasimha asked Additional Solicitor General K M Nataraj, representing the Delhi Police.

The court noted that there was no "palpable progress" made in the FIR lodged in May, 2022 with regard to the incident in December, 2021.

As Nataraj submitted that the delay was not deliberate and the process of verification is going on, the court asked him what steps have been after registration of the FIR and how many people have been examined.

The court asked the law officer to file an affidavit within two weeks.

Nataraj maintained the matter was still under the investigation and the petitioner can't dictate the terms of the probe.

The court was hearing a contempt petition filed by activist Tushar Gandhi alleging inaction by the Delhi Police and Uttarakhand government in alleged hate speech cases.

The plea argued by advocate Shadan Farasat sought action against police chief of Delhi and Uttarakhand for their alleged inaction in the cases in violation of the 2018 apex court judgment in the Tehseen Poonawala case.

The top court, in November last year, discharged the Uttarakhand government and the police chief from a list of parties in the contempt plea.