New Delhi, May 23 (H.S.): A Delhi court on Saturday deferred the hearing on a petition challenging a trial court order that had refused to direct 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 Jitendra Singh of the Rouse Avenue Sessions Court scheduled the next hearing in the matter for July 4.

During the hearing on Saturday, both parties sought adjournment for arguments, following which the court postponed the proceedings.

Earlier, advocate Gagan Gandhi, appearing for petitioner Ravindra Gupta, had argued that the petitioner, being a worker associated with the RSS, was deeply hurt by Kharge’s statements. He urged the court to direct the registration of an FIR against the Congress leader.

Kharge had filed his reply in the matter on March 20.

Previously, a magistrate court at Tis Hazari had dismissed the plea seeking registration of an FIR against Kharge. Challenging that order, petitioner Ravindra Gupta subsequently approached the Sessions Court. The court had issued notice to Kharge on January 29.

The matter stems from an order dated December 13, 2024, in which the Tis Hazari Magistrate Court declined to direct the filing of an FIR against Kharge.

Since Kharge is a Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament, the petition has now been filed before the MP-MLA Court at Rouse Avenue.

The petition, filed by RSS worker Ravindra Gupta, alleges that Kharge made objectionable remarks against the BJP and the RSS during an election rally in Karnataka on April 27, 2023, ahead of the Assembly elections in the state.

According to the plea, Kharge had levelled serious allegations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, Kharge later clarified that his remarks were not directed personally at the Prime Minister, but at the BJP and the RSS.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar