Delhi LG Approves Prosecution of Arundhati Roy Under UAPA for 2010 Speech

Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has approved the prosecution of author Arundhati Roy under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for her alleged provocative speech at a 2010 event, according to officials at Raj Niwas, as reported by PTI on Friday.

“Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena has sanctioned the prosecution of Arundhati Roy and former Professor of International Law in Central University of Kashmir, Dr. Sheikh Showkat Hussain, under section 45 (1) of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the case,” a Raj Niwas official said.

Last October, Saxena had granted sanction to prosecute Roy and former Central University of Kashmir professor Sheikh Showkat Hussain under section 196 of CrPC for commission of offences punishable under different sections of the Indian Penal Code.

“The issues discussed and spoken about at the conference propagated the separation of Kashmir from India,” the Raj Niwas official said.

Apart from Roy and Sheikh Showkat Hussain, the speakers at the event included late Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, SAR Geelani (the conference’s anchor and a key accused in the Parliament attack case), and Varavara Rao.

The complainant Sushil Pandit, an activist from Kashmir, had filed a complaint under Section 156(3) of CrPC before the Metropolitan Magistrate Court, New Delhi, which directed the registration of an FIR on November 27, 2010.

“It was alleged that Geelani and Arundhati Roy strongly propagated that Kashmir was never part of India and was forcibly occupied by the Armed Forces of India and every possible effort should be made for the independence of the J-K from India and recordings of the same were provided by the complainant,” the officials stated.

Subsequently, an FIR was filed and an investigation was conducted, they added.

Roy has been an outspoken critic of the Modi government, voicing dissent on various issues.

In a significant development, Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has authorized the prosecution of acclaimed author Arundhati Roy under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for her alleged provocative remarks at an event in 2010, as per officials at Raj Niwas cited by PTI on Friday.

“Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena has given the go-ahead for the prosecution of Arundhati Roy and former Professor of International Law in Central University of Kashmir, Dr. Sheikh Showkat Hussain, under section 45 (1) of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in this case,” a Raj Niwas official confirmed.

Last October, Saxena had cleared the prosecution of Roy and ex-professor Sheikh Showkat Hussain under section 196 of CrPC for offenses punishable under different sections of the Indian Penal Code.

“The issues discussed and spoken about at the conference advocated for the separation of Kashmir from India,” the Raj Niwas official remarked.

Apart from Roy and Sheikh Showkat Hussain, other speakers at the event included the late Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, SAR Geelani (who chaired the conference and was a primary accused in the Parliament attack case), and Varavara Rao.

Activist Sushil Pandit from Kashmir had lodged a complaint under Section 156(3) of CrPC before the Metropolitan Magistrate Court in New Delhi, which directed the registration of an FIR on November 27, 2010.

“The allegation was that Geelani and Arundhati Roy vigorously asserted that Kashmir had never been a part of India and was forcibly occupied by the Indian Armed Forces, advocating for J-K’s independence from India, with recordings of these statements provided by the complainant,” officials elaborated.

Consequently, an FIR was lodged and an investigation ensued.

Roy has consistently criticized the Modi administration, expressing dissent on multiple fronts.