Delhi's federally-appointed lieutenant-governor (LG) VK Saxena has approved the prosecution of Booker Prize-winning author Arundhati Roy and former professor Sheikh Showkat Hussain under the anti-terror law, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), for comments made about Kashmir in 2010.
The case began with a police complaint filed by social activist Sushil Pandit in 2010 after speeches by Roy and others at a conference organised by a rights group. Following a Delhi court's orders, an FIR was registered against Roy and Hussain.
In India, state government permission is required for prosecution in cases involving hate speech, sedition, and promoting enmity.
"Delhi lieutenant-governor VK Saxena has sanctioned the prosecution of Arundhati Roy and former Professor of International Law in Central University of Kashmir, Sheikh Showkat Hussain, under section 45 (1) of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the case," a government official said on Friday.
Last October, the LG had also sanctioned their prosecution under section 196 of CrPC for offences under various sections of the Indian Penal Code: 153A (promoting enmity between different groups), 153B (assertions prejudicial to national integration), and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief).
Roy and Hussain allegedly made provocative speeches at a conference titled 'Azadi - The Only Way' on October 21, 2010, at LTG Auditorium, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi. "The issues discussed and spoken about at the conference propagated the separation of Kashmir from India," said the official.
Speakers at the conference included Syed Ali Shah Geelani, SAR Geelani, Arundhati Roy, Sheikh Showkat Hussain, and Varavara Rao. The complaint, filed under Section 156(3) of CrPC, led to a Delhi court directing the registration of an FIR on November 27, 2010.
An investigation was conducted following the FIR.
Arundhati Roy won the Booker Prize in 1997 for her novel, "The God of Small Things."
(Agencies)
Clifford had previously pleaded guilty to the murders of BBC sports commentator John Hunt’s wife and two daughters at their home in northwest of London, in July 2024. (Photo: Hertfordshire Police /Handout via REUTERS)
Crossbow murderer found guilty of raping ex-girlfriend
A 26-YEAR-OLD man who murdered three women in a crossbow and stabbing attack has been found guilty of raping one of them, his ex-girlfriend, a British court ruled on Thursday.
Kyle Clifford had previously pleaded guilty to the murders of BBC sports commentator John Hunt’s wife and two daughters at their home in Bushey, northwest of London, in July 2024.
The attack led to a manhunt before Clifford was found injured hours later in a north London cemetery.
A jury at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday convicted Clifford of raping 25-year-old Louise Hunt before killing her.
His sentencing for all the crimes is scheduled for Tuesday.
Clifford had admitted to murdering Carol Hunt, 61, and her daughters Louise and Hannah, 28. He had also pleaded guilty to charges of false imprisonment and possessing offensive weapons but denied raping Louise.
During the trial, the court heard that after killing Carol Hunt, Clifford waited for an hour before attacking Louise, tying her up, raping her, and then killing her with a crossbow. He later killed Hannah when she returned home from work.
The prosecution described Clifford, a former soldier, as committing a "violent, sexual act of spite" and said he was "enraged" after Louise ended their 18-month relationship. They told the court that he had "carefully planned" the attack.
Less than 24 hours before the killings, Clifford had searched for a podcast by social media influencer Andrew Tate, according to the prosecution. They argued that the murders were driven by the "violent misogyny promoted" by Tate.
Justice Joel Bennathan called Clifford’s crimes "dreadful" and "almost unspeakable".
(With inputs from AFP)