Charlie Hebdo Reprint: Shirin Dalvi moves HC, seeks quashing of cases against her

Shirin Dalvi has approached Bombay HC, asking that the court quash the criminal cases registered against her in Thane and Mumbai, for republishing the cover of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, which featured a controversial cartoon of Prophet Mohammed.

Shirin Dalvi, editor of Urdu daily Avadhnama, has approached Bombay high court, asking that the court quash the criminal cases registered against her in Thane and Mumbai, for republishing the cover of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, which featured a controversial cartoon of Prophet Mohammed.

On Thursday, her petition was mentioned for urgent hearing before a division bench of justice Ranjit More and justice Anuja Prabhudessai. The bench has posted the matter for hearing on Monday.

At least four criminal cases have been registered against the 46-year-old journalist at Mumbra in Thane district, and at least three police stations in Mumbai. Her legal troubles started after the Urdu daily published the controversial caricature on January 17. The next day, the daily published an apology to its readers. Two days after the publication of the cartoon, the Mumbai edition of the daily was closed down.

Dalvi has been booked under section 295 A of the Indian Penal Code for outraging religious feelings of a class by insulting its religion with malicious intent. In her petition, she has, however, contended she had not reproduced the cartoon itself, but the cover page of the satirical magazine.