The Calcutta High Court on Monday quashed a FIR filed against BJP leader and Bollywood actor Paresh Rawal, who was accused of making anti-Bengali remarks during the Gujarat election campaign last year.
Rawal allegedly made a statement during his election campaign in Gujarat’s Valsad district linking the price of gas cylinders to the cost of cooking fish for Bengalis. He is quoted as saying, “Gas Cylinders are expensive, but their cost will decrease. People will get employment too. But what if Rohingya migrants and Bangladeshis start living around you, like in Delhi? What are you going to do with gas cylinders? Cook fish for the Bengalis?”
The Kolkata Police investigated a complaint filed by the CPI (MWEST)’s Bengal unit secretary, Mohd Salim, alleging that Rawal infuriated Bengalis by making hate speech against members of the community.
However, in the face of widespread criticism, Rawal later clarified that by “Bengali,” he meant illegal Bangladeshis and Rohingya immigrants who enter India through West Bengal.
While quashing the FIR, Justice Rajasekhar Mantha noted that the speech in question was delivered in Gujarati, which may not be necessarily understood by the people who have objected to it. He also considered that Rawal had already provided clarifications and apologized for the speech in question.
The Court observed, “The speech in question was made in Gujarati and there is no English translation of the text till date. Some people who may not understand Gujarati have made comments in response to the speech. Above all, the petitioner has clarified and apologized.”
As a result, after considering the facts of the case, the Court determined that further continuation of the proceedings and the FIR would be undesirable, and thus, quashed the FIR.
“Having regard to the whole facts and circumstances of the case, this Court is of the view that the further continuation of the FIR and the proceedings, in not desirable. Hence, FIR No. 153 dated 02.12.2022 is quashed,” the Court added.
