Delhi LG sanctions prosecution of author Arundhati Roy under UAPA

New Delhi, June 14: Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena has approved to prosecute author Arundhati Roy under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for allegedly making provocative speeches at an event in 2010.

According to PTI, Saxena also sanctioned the prosecution of former Central University of Kashmir Dr Sheikh Showkat Hussain under the same act.

The sanction was granted under Section 45 (1) of the UAPA, as confirmed by a Raj Niwas official quoted by PTI.

The FIR against Roy and Hussain was filed following the orders of the Court of Metropolitan Magistrate, New Delhi.

The complaint was initially lodged by Sushil Pandit, a social activist from Kashmir, on October 28, 2010.

The controversial speeches were made at a conference on October 21, 2010, where Roy and Hussain, along with others, allegedly discussed topics that promoted the separation of Kashmir from India, according to the Raj Niwas official.

The complaint was filed under Section 156 (3) of the CrPC before the Metropolitan Magistrate Court, New Delhi.

The court, on November 27, 2010, directed the registration of an FIR, which led to an investigation.

Other speakers at the conference included Syed Ali Shah Geelani (deceased), S A R Geelani (deceased), Arundhati Roy, Dr Sheikh Showkat Hussain, and Varavara Rao.