Plea filed in Bombay High Court against Raj Thackeray for violence against Hindi speakers

Sunil Shukla, President of the Uttar Bhartiya Vikas Sena, has moved the Bombay High Court seeking protection and legal action against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray and his party members. Earlier, the Supreme Court had declined to entertain a similar plea.

In his petition, Shukla alleges that Thackeray and MNS members have repeatedly targeted Hindi-speaking citizens in Maharashtra, inciting violence and issuing personal threats against him due to his political stance and advocacy for North Indian migrants.

Over the past year, he claims to have faced serious harassment, intimidation, and life threats, yet police and state authorities have taken no effective action despite nine written complaints over a ten-month period.

The plea highlights multiple incidents, including one from October 2024, where around 30 alleged MNS supporters stormed his party’s office and attempted to ransack it. Shukla says a police officer witnessed the hour-long incident but did not file a report or arrest anyone.

On March 30 this year, Raj Thackeray addressed public at a Gudi Padwa rally and allegedly called for violence against Hindi-speaking employees in malls and banks who do not speak Marathi. Shukla claims this speech directly led to attacks on Hindi-speaking staff across Mumbai.

A lot of bank employees have been attacked by MNS workers across Maharashtra. Not only male employees, but female employees have also been victim of language politics.

After filing a petition in the Supreme Court against Thackeray earlier this year, Shukla says he began receiving multiple death threats via phone and WhatsApp. His phone number was allegedly circulated by MNS supporters, leading to a flood of abusive and threatening messages. Despite informing senior police officials and state authorities, Shukla alleges no protective measures were taken.

Shukla has requested the Court to order immediate police protection for him and his family, register FIRs against Thackeray and others involved in issuing threats, and direct the Election Commission of India to consider deregistering MNS for allegedly violating election laws and promoting hatred.

He has also sought the transfer of the investigation to an independent agency or Special Investigation Team (SIT) to ensure impartiality and prevent political interference.