The Delhi High Court on Friday directed city police to assess any potential threats to Congress leader Udit Raj and assign a beat officer to remain in regular contact with him for the next 2 months.
The order came in response to Raj’s petition seeking security due to alleged threats following his remarks against Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati.
A bench led by Justice Ravinder Dudeja disposed of the petition after being informed that the Delhi Police had already initiated an investigation into Raj’s claims.
The court also instructed the Station House Officer (SHO) and beat officer to maintain strict vigilance and share their contact details with Raj to ensure his safety.
Alleged Threats Linked To Remarks Against Mayawati
Udit Raj filed the petition citing threats from BSP leaders and supporters. The alleged threats began in February, soon after a press conference in Lucknow where Raj made controversial remarks directed at Mayawati. During the conference, he stated that Mayawati “should be strangled” as she had “stifled the social welfare movement.”
The comments sparked outrage among BSP members and drew widespread criticism. In the aftermath, Raj took to the social media platform X to clarify his statement. Writing in Hindi, he questioned whether BSP supporters had the ability to think critically and elaborated on the context of his controversial remark.
Clarification
Raj later clarified that his comment was not a literal call for violence but a metaphorical expression. According to him, when he said Mayawati had “strangled the movement,” he was referring to her alleged role in undermining the Bahujan social justice agenda. The phrase “now the time has come to strangle her,” he explained, was meant to encourage people to distance themselves from her leadership, not to incite physical harm.
“It was not meant as a threat or to provoke violence,” Raj clarified, adding that his intention was to highlight what he sees as Mayawati’s betrayal of the Bahujan cause.
Continued Police Monitoring
While the Delhi Police continues to investigate the alleged threats, the court has emphasized proactive monitoring. The assigned beat officer is expected to stay in regular contact with Raj and ensure prompt communication in case of any suspicious activity.
With this directive, the Delhi High Court aims to safeguard Udit Raj’s personal liberty while the investigation continues.
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