New Delhi, 30 January (H.S.): Delhi's Rouse Avenue Sessions Court issued notice to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday in a case involving alleged derogatory statements against BJP and RSS. The trial court had refused to order FIR registration against him, prompting a petition challenging that decision, with Special Judge Jitendra Singh scheduling the next hearing for February 27.

On December 13, 2024, the Tis Hazari Magistrate Court declined to direct FIR registration against Kharge, a Rajya Sabha MP, leading to the petition being filed at Rouse Avenue's MP-MLA Court. RSS member Ravindra Gupta filed the petition alleging that Kharge made defamatory remarks against BJP and RSS during Karnataka assembly elections on April 27, 2023.

The plea claims Kharge initially leveled serious allegations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi before clarifying they targeted RSS and BJP instead.Petitioner's counsel Gagan Gandhi argued that as an RSS member, Gupta felt aggrieved by Kharge's statements.

The court had directed Subzi Mandi police station to file an Action Taken Report, which stated the remarks were made in Karnataka outside their jurisdiction.

The Magistrate Court observed that under CrPC Section 156(3), its purview is not to determine cognizability but whether police investigation is warranted—thus denying FIR permission. The court took cognizance of the complaint and directed the petitioner to present evidence supporting it.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar