Calcutta HC quashes FIR in opposition to BJP chief Paresh Rawal for ‘cooking fish’ remarks throughout Gujarat polls

The Calcutta High Court Monday (February 6) quashed the FIR filed in opposition to actor turned BJP chief Paresh Rawal over his ‘cooking fish’ remarks made in opposition to unlawful Bangladeshis and Rohingyas throughout the marketing campaign for the Gujarat state elections.

#CalcuttaHighCourt quashed an FIR filed in opposition to actor #PareshRawal by the CPI(M)’s secretary Mohd Salim who claimed that the actor had made derogatory feedback in opposition to the Bengali neighborhood.

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— ABP LIVE (@abplive) February 6, 2023

The court docket was listening to a plea filed by Paresh Rawal on February 1, 2023, in search of to quash the FIR filed in opposition to him by Kolkata’s Taltala police primarily based on a criticism filed in opposition to him by CPM(M) chief Mohammad Salim. 

While dismissing the FIR filed in December final 12 months, single-judge Justice Rajasekhar Mantha remarked that the speech was delivered in Gujarati, which the individuals who objected to didn’t essentially perceive.

“The speech in question was made in Gujarati and there is no English translation of the text to date. There have been some comments against the speech by persons, who may not necessarily understand Gujarati. Above all, the petitioner has clarified and has also tendered an apology,” Justice Mantha said within the order. 

After contemplating the details of the case, the bench concluded that additional continuation of the proceedings and the FIR could be undesirable, and thereby dismissed the FIR.

FIR filed in opposition to Paresh Rawal

Notably, on December 2, an FIR was filed in opposition to Paresh Rawal by West Bengal Communist Party of India (Marxist) chief Mohammed Salim who alleged that Rawal’s ‘cooking fish’ comment might foster anti-Bengali sentiments amongst folks of different states within the nation, inflicting issues for expatriate Bengalis. 

The FIR was filed at Kolkata’s Taltala police station beneath sections 153 (provocation with intent to trigger riot), 153A (selling enmity between completely different teams), 153B (propagates denial of rights to linguistic or racial teams), 504 (Intentional insult with intent to impress breach of the peace) and 505 (statements intending public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The controversy erupted after Rawal requested the voters throughout his rally in Gujarat’s Valsad if they may ‘cook fish for the Bengalis’ with their fuel connections. He later apologised for his feedback and mentioned that he “meant illegal Bangladeshis and Rohingya” folks when he requested at a rally what the viewers will do with fuel cylinders. The actor and BJP chief additionally took to social media and apologised for his remarks, asserting that they have been meant for unlawful intruders from Bangladesh and Rohingyas.