High Court extends stay on NBWs against Raj Thackeray for anti-Bihari remarks

NEW DELHI: Delhi High Court today extended its stay on non-bailable warrants (NBWs) against MNS chief Raj Thackeray till May 21 in various cases lodged against him for allegedly making anti-Bihari remarks in 2008.

"The operation of stay against the NBWs is extended till May 21," Justice Sunil Gaur said.

The court also issued notice to the respondents -- eight persons who have filed separate complaints against Thackeray, and sought their reply on the plea of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief.

Thackeray has moved Delhi High Court seeking quashing of the criminal complaints against him for allegedly making inflammatory remarks.

Earlier on January 30, 2013, the court had stayed execution of the NBWs and tagged the matter with several other similar petitions moved by the MNS chief. All these matters will now come up for hearing on May 21.

As per Thackeray's plea, complaints were filed against him in various places including Delhi, Jharkhand and Bihar in 2008 under IPC sections 153A (promoting enmity between classes), 153B (assertions prejudicial to national integration), 295A (maliciously insulting religion of any class), 500 (defamation) and 504 (insult intended to provoke breach of peace).

The complaint alleged that he had allegedly made inflammatory speeches against people of Bihar.

A magisterial court first issued summons against him and then arrest warrants as he had failed to appear.

Thackeray then moved the Supreme Court, which in January 2010, stayed the proceedings and transferred all cases to Delhi.

Subsequently, the MNS leader moved the High Court seeking quashing of the criminal complaints in the trial court here as well as the summoning orders and non-bailable warrants issued by the lower courts at places in Bihar, Jharkhand and Delhi.