New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday asked activist Harsh Mander to file his response to the allegation of the Delhi Police that he had also delivered hate speeches during anti-CAA protests, and adjourned the matter to April 15.
The bench comprising of Chief Justice of India SA Bobde, Justice BR Gavai and Justice Surya Kant, however, made it clear that it had not issued a contempt notice to Mander and said it would hear the plea on April 15, when it concludes hearing the Sabarimala matter.
Appearing for the Delhi Police, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta opposed the submission and said he had come across one more statement that was objectionable and brought disrepute to the judiciary.
Appearing for Mander, senior advocate Dushyant Dave said he had perused the statement attributed to the activist and found nothing contemptuous and objectionable in those.
Read: SC refuses to allow Delhi violence victim to intervene in hate speech case of activist Harsh Mander
"The speech on the basis of which on last occassion my lords were anguished is worth reading the whole, there is nothing contemptous," said Dave.
Dave further argued that he is concerned that the government is targeting the messenger and does not care about the actual culprits.
The apex court asked Mander's counsel to file response on the Delhi police affidavit and scheduled the matter for further hearing on April 15, after the court was informed that Mander was in the US.
Earlier on March 4, the Delhi Police urged the Supreme Court in an affidavit to initiate contempt proceedings against social activist Harsh Mander, who delivered a speech "instigating violence" to a huge gathering of people outside Jamia Millia Islamia in December 2019.
Mander had moved the top court seeking an FIR against BJP leaders for making hate speeches and accused them of inciting riots. The police urged the top court to dismiss Mander's plea with exemplary costs and initiate contempt proceedings against him.
(With inputs from PTI and IANS)
