High Court Orders New Hearing on FIR Petition Against NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad

The Bombay High Court has instructed a Thane magistrate to reconsider an application to register an FIR against NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad. Initially, a lawyer’s complaint was dismissed. The reconsideration follows claims that Awhad's statement, made during an ongoing investigation, promoted enmity between groups.

The Bombay High Court has directed a magistrate in Thane district to revisit an application seeking the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against NCP (SP) MLA Jitendra Awhad.

The magistrate initially rejected the complaint filed by lawyer Khush Khandelwal, who has been pushing for police action against Awhad under IPC section 153 (a), which pertains to promoting enmity between different groups. The high court order, passed by Justice Sarang Kotwal on September 6, was made public on Thursday.

Khandelwal, who leads an outfit called Hindu Task Force, cited the 2018 arrest of cow vigilante Vaibhav Raut by the Anti-Terrorism Squad of Maharashtra, who allegedly recovered crude bombs. He claims Awhad unwarrantedly stated the bombs were intended for use against protesting Maratha activists. Following Bhayander police's refusal to register an FIR, Khandelwal's appeal was denied by a lower court due to jurisdictional issues.

(With inputs from agencies.)