HC orders threat assessment for Congress leader Udit Raj
The Delhi High Court has directed the police to keep Congress leader Udit Raj under close watch for two months, following his plea for protection against alleged threats from Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leaders and supporters.
The Bench, led by Justice Ravinder Dudeja, issued the directive after hearing Raj’s petition in which he expressed concern over his personal safety. Raj claimed he had been facing threats since February, allegedly in response to remarks he made about BSP supremo Mayawati.
While the Delhi Police informed the court that an investigation into the matter was already underway, the court opted to close the case with specific instructions to ensure the Congress leader’s safety.
The court instructed the Station House Officer (SHO) and a designated beat officer to maintain regular contact with Raj and to monitor any potential threats to him. It also ordered the officers to share their contact information with him to allow immediate communication in case of emergency.
The threats reportedly emerged after Raj made controversial comments about Mayawati at a press conference in Lucknow. During the event, Raj accused her of having “strangled” the social welfare movement and provocatively added that it was time she was “strangled” in return.
The remarks drew sharp criticism and sparked backlash among BSP supporters. In the wake of the controversy, Raj later clarified his statement via social media platform X, insisting his words were metaphorical and not a call to violence. He wrote in Hindi that his comments were aimed at urging people to reject Mayawati’s leadership and that he was speaking about political accountability, not physical harm.
Despite the clarification, Raj maintained in the court that he continued to face credible threats and feared possible retaliation.
Taking the safety concerns seriously, the High Court refrained from commenting on the political nature of Raj’s statements but emphasised the need for security. It directed law enforcement to ensure vigilant monitoring of the situation for the next two months to safeguard Raj’s wellbeing.
