Delhi High Court Dismisses Petitions Against Political Leaders in Hate Speech Case

In a significant ruling, the Delhi High Court has dismissed 15 petitions that sought FIRs against various political leaders for alleged hate speech linked to the 2020 North East Delhi riots. The court's decision provides relief to the accused leaders, including prominent figures from the BJP and Congress. The petitions had called for investigations into the speeches made during the riots, which resulted in over 50 deaths. The court's dismissal means that the requests for FIRs and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) inquiry were not accepted. The detailed legal reasoning behind this ruling will be revealed in the forthcoming written order, which is highly anticipated.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 5, 2026, 13:27 IST

Court Ruling on Hate Speech Petitions

The Delhi High Court has rejected 15 petitions seeking the registration of FIRs against political figures related to alleged hate speech during the 2020 North East Delhi riots. This decision provides relief to the leaders named in the petitions, who were accused of making inflammatory remarks.

The bench, comprising Justice Vivek Chaudhary and Justice Manoj Jain, delivered the verdict on Monday, dismissing the petitions. However, a detailed written order has yet to be released.

Leaders Targeted by the Petitions

The petitions called for action against various leaders from different political parties. One petition specifically sought FIRs against BJP leaders Kapil Mishra, Anurag Thakur, Pravesh Sahib Singh Verma, and Abhay Verma, alleging that their speeches were linked to the violence that occurred in 2020.

Another petition requested action against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, as well as AAP's Manish Sisodia and Amanatullah Khan, along with AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi and former MLA Waris Pathan, citing their alleged hate speech.

Pending Petitions Since 2020

These petitions were filed following the riots in North East Delhi in 2020, demanding investigations into the speeches of political leaders and the filing of FIRs. Some petitions also called for the establishment of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct an independent inquiry into the riots and investigate the alleged roles of police officials.

The violence in February 2020 resulted in over 50 fatalities, prompting numerous petitions regarding the connection between the speeches of political leaders and the ensuing violence.

Implications of the Court's Decision

The dismissal of these petitions by the High Court indicates that the court did not accept the requests for FIRs and SIT investigations. However, the specific legal grounds for the dismissal will be clarified once the detailed order is made public.

Various allegations have been made against political leaders and police officials in this case. Following the court's ruling, attention will now turn to the detailed judgment, as it will shed light on the legal reasoning behind the decision and provide further insights from the court.