Prosecute Geelani, Roy, says court

A Delhi court on Saturday ordered registration of a criminal case against Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, writer Arundhati Roy, Delhi University lecturer SAR Geelani and four other for making anti-India speeches in the city during a seminar on October 21, 2010.

A Delhi court on Saturday ordered registration of a criminal case against Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, writer Arundhati Roy, Delhi University lecturer SAR Geelani and four other for making anti-India speeches in the city during a seminar on October 21, 2010.

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Vikas Padora, counsel for complainant Sushil Pandit, contended in court that the accused should be prosecuted for sedition, as they had openly challenged the integrity and authority of the government of India.

“The accused have ignited feeling of hatred, contempt and disaffection among people towards Indian government, and by asking them to boycott it and its armed forces by using any force to destroy governance of India,” Padora said.

A petition was filed in court under criminal sections including waging war against the country.

If convicted, all the accused could face a maximum imprisonment for life.

Metropolitan magistrate Navita Kumari Bagha said, “The Delhi Police is hereby directed to lodge an FIR under relevant provisions of the IPC and file a report in this regard on January 6, 2011 the next date of hearing.”

In such political cases often it happens that government withdraws the cases.