A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court demanding immediate legal action against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray for allegedly inciting mob violence, promoting linguistic hatred, and threatening national unity through his party’s recent activities and public speeches.
The PIL has been filed under Article 32 of the Constitution by advocate Ghanshyam Dayalu Upadhyay, the petition urges the apex court to direct the Centre and the Maharashtra government to register a First Information Report (FIR) against Thackeray under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. The plea also calls for derecognition of the MNS by the Election Commission of India. “This trend of promoting linguistic and regional chauvinism for electoral gain threatens the fabric of Indian democracy,” the petition states, urging the court to frame strict guidelines to curb such “hate-driven politics.”
The petition cites multiple instances where Thackeray and MNS workers allegedly targeted Hindi-speaking migrants from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan, particularly in cities like Mumbai, Thane, Pune, and Raigad. According to the petitioner, Thackeray’s speeches have encouraged a pattern of violence and intimidation, leading to physical assaults and social exclusion of non-Marathi-speaking communities.
A key incident highlighted in the plea pertains to the “Awaj Marathicha” rally held on July 5, 2025, during which Thackeray allegedly stated that those who cannot speak Marathi “should be hit below the eardrums.” The speech also reportedly included criticism of Union Government for promoting Hindi and English as employment languages.
Additionally, the PIL alleges that MNS workers, emboldened by Thackeray’s remarks, have attacked bank employees, security guards, and delivery personnel for not using Marathi in the workplace. Several of these incidents have been captured on video and circulated on social media platforms. One such video allegedly features Thackeray advising party workers to avoid recording their assaults, suggesting that victims would eventually disclose the attackers’ identities.
Calling Thackeray’s display of “Marathi pride” politically motivated, the petition accuses the MNS chief of reviving regional sentiment as part of a strategy to consolidate the Marathi vote bank ahead of the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. The BMC, which has presented a budget of ₹74,427.41 crore for the fiscal year 2025–26, is seen as a major political prize. “Raj Thackeray’s love for Marathi is seasonal and opportunistic,” the plea states. “These antics are aimed at gaining undue political advantage and are being blown out of proportion for electoral gains.”
Upadhyay has contended that the MNS’s actions violate several provisions of the BNS specifically Sections 152 (Acts endangering sovereignty unity and integrity of India), 196 (Promoting enmity), 197 (Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration), 299 (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), and 353 (Statements conducing to public mischief). He also argues that the acts infringe upon fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the Constitution.
