Yogi Adityanath gets relief in '2007 Gorakhpur riots case

The Allahbad High Court on Thursday granted reprieve to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and dismissed a petition seeking CBI probe against him in connection with a hate speech that led to the 2007 Gorakhpur communal riots.

Arguments over the petition, filed by Pervez Parwaz and Asad Hayaat, had concluded in December last year and a two-member bench comprising Justice Krishna Murari and Justice A.C. Sharma had reserved its verdict on December 18, 2017.

Pronouncing judgment on Thursday, the bench dismissed the petition on the grounds that it did not find any discrepancy in the riot probe. The Chief Minister, who was then a BJP MP, was accused of giving provocative speeches in Gorakhpur in January 2007 during Muharram procession, which led to communal clashes wherein one youth was killed and several injured. Adityanath was arrested in connection with riots, but was released two days later.

The Akhilesh government had denied permission for his prosecution in 2014.

"We find no material irregularities in holding investigation and state government's refusal to grant sanction to prosecute Yogi Adityanath. Therefore, the writ petition has hereby dismissed," said the verdict.

Petitioner Parwaz, a local journalist, said that they are disappointed by the judgment and will file a review petition in the Supreme Court. "We have video tapes his speeches and sufficient material ground to file review petition in the Supreme Court," he said.

Case History

The CM who was then a BJP MP, was accused of giving provocative speeches in Gorakhpur in January 2007 during Muharram, which led to communal clashes, wherein one died