Delhi courts dismiss plea for FIR against VK Singh’s Dalit remarks

A Delhi court on Monday dismissed a criminal complaint seeking a lodging of an FIR against Union minister V K Singh for his “dog” analogy in the aftermath of two Dalit children being burned alive in Haryana.

Metropolitan magistrate Muneesh Garg, who had reserved the order on December 4, also rejected the plea of the complainant for taking cognisance of his complaint and recording pre-summoning evidence in the matter.

The court had fixed the matter for pronouncement of order after hearing the submissions of complainant advocate Satya Prakash Gautam who said that the Minister of State for External Affairs had hurt the sentiments of the Dalit community.

Gautam had also sought action against the SHO of Jafrabad police station and the investigating officer for not taking action on his complaint and refusing to register an FIR in the matter.

“Singh called those minor children of the Dalit community ‘dogs’. It is insulting and humiliating to compare my community with a dog. How can police say there is nothing derogatory? I want action against them for saying there is no evidence,” the complainant said.

“Summon, try, punish and confiscate his entire property which the accused person had collected through unfair means by exploiting the religious feelings of innocent citizens, under appropriate sections SC/ST (POA) Act, IT Act and IPC,” the complaint had said.

The police, in its action taken report (ATR), had earlier told the court that the former Army Chief had not made any “specific derogatory and humiliating statement” warranting his prosecution on the complaint for his alleged “dog” remark.

The ATR said that no cognisable offence was made out against Singh for his alleged remarks on October 21.

“In this regard, it is to submit that as per complaint, no specific derogatory and humiliating remarks are found as per law regarding Scheduled Caste/ Scheduled Tribe community. No cognisable offence was made out,” the ATR had said.

Singh had kicked up a storm with his alleged remarks in connection with the Faridabad incident, that the government cannot be blamed if anyone throws a stone at a dog.

The court had on October 29 directed the police to file the ATR on the criminal complaint seeking lodging of FIR against Singh under provisions of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, Information Technology Act and IPC.

The complaint had said, “The statement of Gen V K Singh has caused immense damage to the entire community with a view to denigrating the prestige and honour of Scheduled Caste with deliberate and malicious intention.”

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