New Delhi, 30 October (H.S.): The Sessions Court at Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Courts has reserved its order on a petition seeking the registration of an FIR against Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge over his alleged derogatory remarks against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Special Judge Ruby Alka Gupta has scheduled the pronouncement of the order for November 20.

During the hearing on Friday, advocates Gagan Gandhi, appearing for the petitioner Ravinder Gupta, and Prajjwal Singh, representing Kharge, submitted their written arguments before the court.

At the previous hearing on October 14, statements attributed to Kharge were submitted before the court in a pen drive. The petitioner had also concluded his arguments on that date.

During the hearing on September 28, senior advocate Rebecca John, appearing for Kharge, had argued that the magistrate court had rightly rejected the plea seeking registration of an FIR and that its decision was legally sound. Earlier, on September 19, Kharge had declined to furnish a written undertaking assuring the court that he would refrain from making any defamatory remarks against the RSS.

Petitioner Ravinder Gupta has stated that he was hurt by Kharge’s remarks because of his association with the RSS. He has sought the registration of an FIR against the Congress president.

The magistrate court at Tis Hazari had earlier dismissed the plea seeking an FIR against Kharge, following which Gupta approached the Sessions Court challenging the decision.

According to the petition, Kharge made allegedly derogatory remarks against the BJP and the RSS on April 27, 2023, during the Karnataka Assembly election campaign. The petition further alleges that Kharge made serious remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In connection with the matter, the court had directed the Subzi Mandi Police Station to submit an Action Taken Report (ATR). In its report, the police stated that the alleged remarks had been made in Karnataka and, therefore, the matter did not fall within the territorial jurisdiction of the Subzi Mandi Police Station.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar