Achi news desk-
Guwahati: Delhi Lt. Governor VK Saxena on Friday approved the prosecution of writer Arundhati Roy for allegedly making provocative statements during an event in 2010 promoting Kashmiri separatism, according to Raj Niwas officials. This action falls under Section 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. Last year, the LG had already approved prosecution under several sections of the Indian Penal Code.
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The LG also approved the prosecution of Sheikh Shaukat Hussain, a former professor of international law at the Central University of Kashmir, under the UAPA for his alleged remarks at the same incident. The conference, titled ‘Azadi – The Only Way’, was held at the LTG Auditorium in New Delhi in 2010. Section 13 of the UAPA refers to aiding, abetting or inciting any illegal activity, which is punishable by up to seven years in prison.
The FIR against Roy and Hussain was filed in October 2010 following a complaint by Sushil Pandit, based on a court order of the Metropolitan Court, New Delhi. The other two accused in the case, Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Jilani and Delhi University lecturer Syed Abdul Rehman Jilani, have since died.
Last October, the LG had already given sanction to prosecute the accused under Section 196 of the Criminal Procedure Code for offenses punishable under various sections of the IPC, including 124-A (sedition), 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups), 153-b (claims harming national integration), 504 (intentional insult to provoke a breach of the peace), and 505 (statements contributing to public mischief).
