"Politically Motivated Publicity Interest Litigation": Bombay High Court Dismisses PILs Against Shiv Sena & NCP Leaders

A Division Bench of the Bombay High Court comprising Justice SV Gangapurwala and Justice SG Dige, on Monday, dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a probe by an independent agency against the Former Chief Minister of Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray and Former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh.

The division bench called the PIL 'politically motivated'  and 'publicity interest litigation. The bench said that there was no element of public interest in the PILs. 

The petition also sought an investigation against Inspector Sachin Waze. During the hearing, the advocate informed the court that an investigation had been initiated against Anil Deshmukh and Sachin Waze, however, no investigation was done against the Former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. 

Since the bench was not convinced by the arguments of the petitioner, it dismissed the petition. 

The High Court, simultaneously, disposed of two other petitions which were filed by the same activist namely Hemant Patil through Advocate RN Kachve. 

The other petitions which were filed sought an investigation into misappropriation in the figures of COVID patients managed by BMC. One of the petitions claimed that the Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut and his associates were involved in the scam. 

To the said petition, the bench said that there were no documents or evidence or any details and that no orders could be passed. The bench then disposed of the plea.

The bench also dismissed another petition filed by the same activist seeking an investigation into remarks made by an NCP leader before the media. The petitioner had alleged that the said comments caused public disharmony.