Delhi LG Approves Prosecution of Arundhati Roy and Kashmir Professor for Provocative Speeches

On October 10, 2023, Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor, VK Saxena, granted permission for the prosecution of author Arundhati Roy and former Central University of Kashmir professor Sheikh Showkat Hussain. The charges are related to alleged provocative speeches and acts of public mischief. The First Information Report (FIR) was initiated on November 29, 2010, following the orders of the Court of Metropolitan Magistrate in New Delhi.

The FIR accused them of offenses such as sedition, promoting enmity between different groups based on religion, race, place of birth, residence, and language, with imputations detrimental to national integration. Additionally, they were charged under Section 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

The case stems from a complaint filed by social activist Sushil Pandit from Kashmir on October 28, 2010. He alleged that various participants in a conference organized by the “Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners (CRPP)” under the banner of “Azadi – The Only Way” had delivered provocative speeches on October 21, 2010, at LTG Auditorium, Copernicus Marg. The speeches were said to advocate for the separation of Kashmir from India and were considered provocative, posing a threat to public peace and security.

In addition to Arundhati Roy and Sheikh Showkat Hussain, other notable figures, including Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Syed Abdul Rehman Geelani, and Maoist sympathizer Varvara Rao, were reportedly present during the event.

Re-reported from the article originally published in The Hindustan Times