High Court Appeal: Investigation at Supreme Court Regarding Raj Thackeray over Incidents of Violence Towards Hindi Speakers
In a recent development, the Supreme Court of India has referred a case against Raj Thackeray, the Chief of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), to the Bombay High Court. The case, named Sunil Shukla vs. Union of India and Ors., was initially filed by Sunil Shukla, the National President of the Uttar Bharatiya Vikas Sena.
The case stems from an alleged provocative speech made by Raj Thackeray during a Gudi Padwa rally in March 2025. According to Sunil Shukla, the speech led to a series of violent incidents against Hindi-speaking workers in Mumbai, specifically at Powai and Versova. Furthermore, Sunil Shukla claimed to have received over 100 anonymous calls threatening his life on social media.
Despite multiple written complaints, no FIRs were filed, and no protection was granted to Sunil Shukla or his party members, according to the allegations made by Sunil Shukla. On October 6, 2024, a group of approximately 30 individuals affiliated with MNS allegedly attempted to ransack the party office of Uttar Bhartiya Vikas Sena in Mumbai.
Initially, Sunil Shukla sought the registration of an FIR against Raj Thackeray and the de-recognition of the MNS party. However, these requests were declined by the Supreme Court. The Court did clarify that it has not expressed any opinion on the merits of the case.
On August 4, 2025, the Supreme Court, comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran, refused to entertain the plea filed by Sunil Shukla. Instead, they directed him to approach the Bombay High Court for relief. The Court allowed the petitioner to withdraw the petition filed under Article 32 and file it in the Bombay High Court, noting no reason why the petitioner had not approached the High Court earlier.
The current status of the case at the Bombay High Court is that the petitioner has been granted liberty by the Supreme Court to file his plea and seek legal relief related to Raj Thackeray's alleged hate speech. No direct Supreme Court proceedings are ongoing following the referral.
The case is being represented by advocates Abid Ali Beeran, Sriram Parakkat, Anandhu S Nair, and Maneesha Sunil Kumar. The proceedings in the Bombay High Court are ongoing, and the outcome of the case will provide clarity on the matter.
The ongoing case against Raj Thackeray, Chief of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), in the Bombay High Court, stems from a provocative speech he allegedly made during a Gudi Padwa rally in March 2025. This case, named Sunil Shukla vs. Union of India and Ors., is related to politics and general news, as it involves war-and-conflicts and policy-and-legislation, with the latter pertaining to the constitutional rights and protections supposedly denied to Sunil Shukla and his party members.
