No palpable progress: Bench

New Delhi, January 13

Noting that no palpable progress had been made by the Delhi Police in the probe into the hate speeches made at the December 2021 ‘Dharm Sansad’ here, the Supreme Court on Friday sought a report from the Delhi Police in two weeks.

“Why do you need five months for lodging an FIR? How many arrests have been made,” a Bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud asked, pointing out that the incident took place in December, 2021 and the FIR was lodged on May 4, 2022. “There is no palpable progress made in the investigation,” the Bench said while hearing a contempt petition filed by activist Tushar Gandhi, alleging inaction on the part of the Delhi Police and the Uttarakhand Police in the matter.

The Bench, which also included Justice PS Narasimha, asked Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj to file an affidavit of the Investigating Officer of the Delhi Police in two weeks, giving details of the progress made in the probe.

Hate speeches were made at the ‘Dharam Sansad’ held in Haridwar from December 17 to 19, 2021, and in Delhi on December 19, 2021, the petitioner alleged.

The contempt action was sought to be initiated against the police chiefs of Delhi and Uttarakhand for “inaction” in the cases in violation of the top court’s directions.