Panel demands criminal case against Thackeray

A group seeking implementation of the Srikrishna panel has urged SC to direct the M'rashtra Govt to register a criminal case against Bal Thackeray, reports Bhadra Sinha.

A group seeking implementation of the Srikrishna Commission report has urged the Supreme Court to direct the Maharashtra government to register a criminal case against Bal Thackeray for abetting and inciting organised attacks on Muslims during the Mumbai riots in 1993.

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The Action Committee for Implementation of Srikrishna Commission filed its affidavit before the SC, listing the Maharashtra government’s alleged lapses in taking action against those involved in the riots following the demolition of the disputed structure at Ayodhya in December 1992.

In response to the direction issued by the bench of Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan on August 1, the panel filed the 82-page affidavit through its counsel Anis Suhawardy.

In its prayer seeking criminal action against Thackeray, the committee has cited the observations of the Srikrishna report that held the Shiv Sena leader culpable for arousing the fever pitch of the rioters. The commission had stated in the report: “The communal passions of the Hindus were aroused to fever pitch by inciting writings in print media, particularly Saamna and Navakaal that gave exaggerated accounts of the Mathadi Murders and the Radhabai Chawl incidents.” It further reads that the propaganda unleashed by communal organisations was taken over by Shiv Sena and its leaders who whipped up communal frenzy through statements and directives issued by the Sena pramukh Bal Thackeray.

Furthermore, the panel states police failed to book Thackeray for substantive offences of “aiding” or “abetting” the rioters and “murderers.”

The committee has sought action against the police officials who allegedly shot at innocent people during the riots. Submitting a list of 31 such officers, the panel claimed only one officer was dismissed from service while another was made to take compulsory retirement. The remaining continued to serve with the Mumbai police and most of them got promoted while being in service.