Special Reporter: New case against writer Arundhati Roy. Chief Justice of Kolkata High Court TS Sivagyanam and Judge Hiranmaya Bhattacharya directed all parties to notice the case against writer Arundhati Roy. According to the applicant’s allegation, the author called Arundhati India as ‘Hindu Fascist Enterprise’ on his Twitter handle (currently X). Applicant Mita Banerjee has submitted a petition in the High Court to erase that statement.
As an Indian citizen, Arundhati’s such statement is ‘sad’ for him, Banerjee claims. According to him, Indian government is formed according to democracy. People choose the government by voting. India is a secular country. Applicants alleged that author Arundhati was not just upset by posting, he interviewed West Asian news media Al Jazeera. Mita claims that Al-Jazeera is the channel of dead Al-Qaider leader Osama bin Laden.
The petitioner in the High Court said that actor Prakash Raj also spoke just like Arundhati. After accepting the hearing of the petition, the Chief Justice asked, “Why didn’t you go to Delhi High Court? “He also observes that interview was done long ago.” Along with that, the departmental judge says that Twitter’s name has now changed to X handle. As a result, it was ordered to bring new notice.
Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena gave green signal to start legal process against Arundhati and Delhi Professor Shoukat Hussain in October of the year, raising allegations of support of Jammu and Kashmir separation in 2010. In November 2010, Arundhati was submitted a statement against him in a meeting in Delhi and raising allegations of giving voice in support of Kashmir separation. In that case, the governor allowed Arundhati to file lawsuits in section 153A, 153B and 505.
153A for spreading hate among different groups, 153B for speaking dangerous to national unity and false information trying to scare the army, section 505 applies to spreading rumors. Raising allegations against Arundhati, he claimed that Kashmir was never a part of India. He was forcefully captured by the soldiers. It is duty to give freedom to Kashmir. The allegation of section 124A is also mentioned. But since the Supreme Court is asking to postpone the trial of the treason law, it doesn’t apply here.