Remarks on B R Ambedkar: Plaint filed against Maharashtra minister Chandrakant Patil

Chandrakant Patil. File Pic

A man claiming to be a social worker on Saturday filed a criminal complaint in a court against Maharashtra minister Chandrakant Patil in connection with the controversial remarks made by him about B R Ambedkar and social reformer Jyotiba Phule.

It was filed before special judge A P Kanade for action under provisions of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and Indian Penal Code sections 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 153(A) (promoting enmity), 120B (Punishment for criminal conspiracy), and 504 (intentional insult).

The complaint also named Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, BJP MLA Shivaji Kadam, Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar and two other police officers alleging they acted with "common intention" to save Patil.

The complainant alleged he had submitted a complaint to the police but they didn't act and hence Fadnavis (who is also the home minister of the state), the Mumbai police commissioner, and two other officials acted with common intention to save Patil.

The plea filed by Ashok Kamble, through advocate Nitin Satpute, claimed Patil had made insulting statements against Ambedkar and Jyotibai Phule.

Speaking in Marathi at an event in Aurangabad on December 9, Patil, the Higher and Technical Education Minister, had said Ambedkar and Phule did not seek government grants for running educational institutions but they "begged" people to gather funds for starting schools and colleges, triggering a huge controversy.

The complainant claimed that Patil has by his words either spoken or by signs or by visible representation or otherwise promoted or attempted to promote Ill-feelings of hatred and ill-will against Ambedkar which falls under the ambit SC/ST (POA) Act.

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Patil has disrespected Ambedkar, Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil and Phule who have been held in high esteem by members of the scheduled castes or the scheduled tribes, the plea said.

The complaint accused MLA Kadam of giving provocative statements while supporting Patil.

According to the complainant, he had submitted a complaint to the police but they didn't act. Hence Fadnavis (who is also the home minister of the state), the Mumbai police commissioner, and two other officials acted with common intention to save Patil, it said.

They all in common intention decided not to take cognizance of the cognizable offence which is mandatory under the provision of CrPC, the complainant said.

The court will hear the matter on December 20.

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