A social activist has filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court highlighting the lack of action by Maharashtra police and the state government against the increasing number of hate speeches being delivered by politician Nitesh Rane and others. The petition, accepted by the court yesterday, draws attention to Rane’s inflammatory remarks, including threats to “bulldoze” a particular community, accusing him of inciting communal tensions to attract media attention.

Petitioner Muhammad Jameel Merchant, in his plea for interim relief, has demanded the immediate arrest of individuals (Nitesh Rane and Ramgiri Maharaj) 
making hate speeches. He has also sought to bar these individuals from addressing election rallies or public events and advocated for a special law mandating swift police action against hate speech. Merchant has called for strict legal consequences to deter future instances of hate speech.