The Bombay High Court has asked for detailed information in a petition alleging hate speech and threats by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and its chief, Raj Thackeray, against Hindi-speaking residents in the state.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekar and Justice Gautam Ankhad was hearing the matter filed by Sunil Shukla, leader of the Uttar Bhartiya Vikas Sena. The petition claims that certain speeches and statements attributed to Thackeray and MNS members have fostered hostility toward Hindi-speaking individuals, leading to intimidation and, in some cases, physical assaults.

During the hearing, the Bench directed the petitioner to place on record specific instances of the alleged hate speech. The Court sought details such as dates, locations and the precise content of the statements in question. The judges made it clear that without concrete material, it would not be possible to assess whether any legal action is warranted.

According to the plea, Shukla faced threats and attempts at intimidation after speaking out against what he described as anti-Hindi rhetoric. It also alleges that complaints submitted to the police did not result in the registration of First Information Reports. The petition contends that this amounts to a failure to protect fundamental rights, including equality before the law and freedom of expression.

Among the reliefs sought are directions to register FIRs against those allegedly responsible, police protection for the petitioner and his family, and appropriate action against the political party. The plea further urges the Court to step in to prevent further inflammatory remarks.

At this stage, the High Court has not commented on the merits of the allegations. It has asked the petitioner to furnish detailed material to support his claims before the matter proceeds further. The case is expected to be heard again once the additional information is submitted.