New Delhi, Mar 12 (UNI) Delhi High Court, on Thursday, heard a petition filed against Indian National Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi and its veteran leader Salman Khurshid and Bharatiya Janata Party’s Anurag Thakur, Kapil Mishra and Parvesh Verma, alleging hate speeches that fanned communal violence in North East Delhi last month in which at least 53 people were killed and about 500 injured.

A division bench, of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice C Hari Shankar, directed Delhi Police and the Arvind Kejriwal government to file their reply by March 16 and listed the matter for hearing on March 20, Friday.

The petition also sought registration of cases against the politicians for allegedly making provocative speeches during violence in Delhi which began after supporters and opponents of the Citizenship Amendment Act clashed. Plaintiff has sought a Special Investigation Team inquiry to assess the damage of property in the communal violence.

Delhi High Court, in February, had issued notice to the Centre seeking their reply on another plea demanding an FIR against Sonia Gandhi, former INC president Rahul Gandhi and party General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, among others, for allegedly delivering hate speeches.

Last month, the High Court, issued notices, after hearing submissions on behalf of social activist Harsh Mander, who sought, for allegedly making provocative speeches, registration of FIRs against BJP's Anurag Thakur, Parvesh Verma and Kapil Mishra .

Counsel for Delhi Police submitted that they have arrested nearly 2,400 persons in connection with the communal violence.

UNI XC RP1703