Delhi LG Sanctions Prosecution of Arundhati Roy and Dr. Sheikh Showkat Hussain

The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, V.K. Saxena, has given prosecution sanction against author Arundhati Roy and former Professor Sheikh Showkat Hussain under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for their alleged provocative speeches at an event in 2010.

The FIR against Roy and Hussain was registered based on the orders of the Court of Metropolitan Magistrate, New Delhi, following a complaint by social activist Sushil Pandit on October 28, 2010.

An official from Raj Niwas confirmed on Friday that the prosecution of Roy and Dr. Hussain under section 45(1) of the UAPA has been approved by Delhi LG VK Saxena, along with their prosecution under various sections of the Indian Penal Code including 153A, 153B, and 505.

The event in question was a conference organized by the Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners in 2010 at LTG Auditorium, Copernicus Marg, titled ‘Azadi – The Only Way,’ discussing and advocating the separation of Kashmir from India.

Among the speakers at the event were Arundhati Roy, Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, SAR Geelani, and Varvara Rao, known for his involvement in the Bhima-Koregaon case.

Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Arundhati Roy allegedly voiced support for Kashmir’s independence from India, claiming that Kashmir was never a part of India and was forcibly occupied by the Indian Armed Forces.

Following the initial complaint, an FIR was registered against the accused under sedition, promoting enmity between different groups, making assertions prejudicial to national integration, and public mischief under the UAPA and IPC.

The Lt. Governor had previously sanctioned their prosecution under the CrPC for offenses against the State and criminal conspiracy to commit such offenses.