Frame charges against Geelani, Roy and others: court tells police
27 Nov 2010
New Delhi's Patiala House Court has directed the Delhi police to register a first information report (FIR) against Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, writer-activist Arundhati Roy and five others for their alleged anti-India statements.
The court rejected the status report submitted by the Delhi Police, which made no charges of offence amounting to sedition against Geelani, Roy and others.
"The Delhi police is hereby directed to lodge an FIR under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code and file a report in this regard on 6 January 2011 the next date of hearing," metropolitan magistrate Navita Kumari Bagha said.
The Delhi Police in its status report filed in the court had said that registration of FIRs against Arundhati and Geelani would not stand, as their speeches did not lead to violent incidents.
"Kashmir has never been an integral part of India - it is a historical fact. Even the Indian government has accepted this," Arundhati had said during the convention on Kashmir 'Azadi - The Only Way' in New Delhi on 24 October 24.
Hurriyat leader Geelani was heckled by the audience at the convention at which he shared the dais with Roy and pro-Maoist leader Vara Vara Rao among others.
