SC shifts seven cases against Raj to Delhi court

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday ordered for shifting to a trial court here in the Capital the seven cases registered against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray in Jharkhand and Bihar in connection with his hate speech against north Indians.

A bench comprising Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan and Justice BS Chauhan passed the order shifting of the trial of such cases to a city trial court of the capital on the plea of MNS supremo.

Senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi appearing for MNS chief said, the cases against Thackeray were "politically motivated" and there was apprehension that he will not get a fair trial in the states where such cases have been registered. The MNS chief had sought transfer of such cases to the courts in the neighbouring states of Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka or any other court in the country except in the hindi speaking states of Uttar Pradesh or Madhya Pradesh.

Rohatgi submitted that the cases against Thackeray should be shifted to one place. He said that the apex court had already passed transfer of the cases at one places registered against the noted painter M F Hussain in connection with his paintaings at different places across the country.