Legal notice to Mumbai Police for failure to file FIR against BJP city president for hate speech

The Mumbai-based lawyer on Thursday (November 27, 2025) sent a legal notice to the Mumbai Police Commissioner alleging failure to act on “derogatory and communal remarks” attributed to BJP MLA Ameet Satam, despite the alleged comments falling under cognizable offences in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023.

Citing multiple instances from public events and social media — such as the remark “Kisi Khan ko Mayor banne nahi denge and Aap jaisi Pakistan ki aulad se hum darte nahi, Malvani pattern ko”, the notice claims these statements are inflammatory and capable of inciting communal hostility and raises questions of why no FIR was filed.

Days ago, Mumbai BJP Chief, Mr. Satam, stirred controversy after he said that Mumbai will not tolerate the “imposition of a Khan”.

The remarks came after Indian-origin Muslim leader Zohran Mamdani won the New York mayoral polls and a debate around Mumbai having a Muslim mayor similar to New York. Another alleged hate remark from Mr. Satam came in support of BJP Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha, when he filed a police complaint against Aslam Shaikh for threatening to finish him and his family.

On Tuesday (November 25, 2025), MP Varsha Gaikwad-led Congress delegation submitted a written complaint to Mumbai police commissioner Deven Bharti to register an FIR against Mr. Satam for “promoting disharmony” and book him under section 152, 196 (2), 299, and others of BNSS.

“This invective is not only highly derogatory but also stigmatises an entire community, imputes foreign allegiance, and squarely falls within the statutory definition of hate speech,” said Bombay HC lawyer in the notice.

“Despite the documented evidence and public outrage, no investigation has been initiated by the police and the police’s failure to act in this scenario not only subverts statutory obligations but also undermines the constitutional promise of equality, secularism and the rule of law,” Lawyer Abid Abbas Sayyed said.

Lawyer Mr. Sayyed demanded an immediate FIR in Mr. Satam’s case and in all the cases of hate speech or communal incitement under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023’s Section 196 (promoting enmity) and prevention of public hatred. The Hindu tried to connect to Mr. Satam, but received no response.