Political Fallout Deepens: Raj Thackeray Named in Supreme Court PIL Over Anti-Hindi Remarks
(Judicial Quest News Network)
Delhi, 20-July, 2025-A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, accusing him of inciting violence and promoting hatred against Hindi-speaking citizens amid the ongoing language row in Maharashtra.
The petition, submitted by Advocate Ghanshyam Upadhyay, seeks the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against Thackeray and his party workers for their alleged involvement in a series of violent incidents targeting individuals who do not speak Marathi. The plea highlights a disturbing pattern of assaults and property damage reportedly carried out by MNS activists, particularly aimed at non-Marathi speakers3.
According to the petition, Thackeray’s public speeches have instigated mob behaviour, encouraging people to take to the streets in protest against the use of Hindi. What began as opposition to Hindi imposition has allegedly evolved into coercive enforcement of Marathi, especially against migrants from other states.
At a rally held on July 5, Thackeray vehemently opposed Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s proposal to introduce a three-language policy in Maharashtra schools. He warned that MNS would forcibly shut down any school that imposed Hindi on students from Classes 1 to 5.
“The speeches made by Raj Thackeray instigate people to come on the street and something which was started as opposing Hindi, has led to Marathi being imposed on people who do not speak Marathi or have come from other states. In a rally organized on or about 5th July, 2025 as Awaj Marathicha, he justified people who do not speak Marathi to be hit below their eardrums.”
Thackeray also defended his party workers, referring to them as “Maharashtra’s soldiers” who take pride in protecting the state’s linguistic and cultural identity. He criticized what he called selective targeting of MNS activists for standing up for Marathi pride.
“Media reports revealed that even few months back, at the instance of Raj Thackeray, his political workers started visiting offices/business establishment to found as to whether the works therein are conducted in Marathi language or otherwise and in the process, they barged into a bank and assaulted and beat up a bank employee on account of he being unable to speak Marathi. Similar incidents had taken place in respect of a security guard and then a delivery boy working with Zomato”
The PIL cites previous Supreme Court directives aimed at curbing mob violence and lynching, urging both the Centre and Maharashtra government to take strict action against such incidents. It calls for these acts to be dealt with an “iron hand” to preserve law and order.
The plea further alleges that people in Maharashtra are living under a constant shadow of fear, facing threats of assault, humiliation, and public shaming at the hands of MNS workers. It argues that Thackeray and his party members have committed cognizable offences under multiple sections of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, including Sections 152, 196, 197, 299, and 353.
In addition to criminal charges, Advocate Upadhyay has requested the Election Commission of India and the Maharashtra State Election Commission to withdraw political recognition of the MNS. The petition also calls for a nationwide policy to monitor and regulate political outfits whose actions threaten the sovereignty, integrity, and unity of the country.
The Supreme Court is yet to take up the PIL for hearing.
