The Supreme Court on Wednesday clubbed the first information reports filed against Bharatiya Janata Party leader Nupur Sharma for her derogatory remarks about the prophet Muhammad.
A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and JB Pardiwala ordered that the cases filed against Sharma be transferred to Delhi.
“We direct that all the FIRs be transferred and clubbed for the purpose of the investigation to Delhi Police,” the top court said.
“IFSO [Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations] of Delhi Police appears to be a specialised agency and it will be appreciated if the investigation is done by it,” said the Bench.
The apex court also extended the interim protection that it had granted to Sharma on July 19 till the completion of the investigation.
The Hindutva politician’s comments about the prophet Muhammed, made during a debate on the Times Now television channel on May 26, had led to a spate of protests across the country in June. India also faced a diplomatic outrage from a number of Gulf countries.
Two Muslims including a minor boy were killed during the protests against Nupur Sharma while two Hindus in Rajasthan were killed for supporting her.
Five FIRs have been filed against the suspended BJP leader in Maharashtra, two in West Bengal, and one each in Delhi and Telangana.
Sharma had demanded that either the first information reports filed against her in various states should be quashed, or they be clubbed together and transferred to Delhi.
During hearing, the top court said that its order will also extend to any FIR or complaint that may be registered against Nupur Sharma in future in connection with her remarks.
The court also granted Sharma the liberty to approach the Delhi High Court regarding her plea to quash the FIRs filed against her.
Last month, Sharma was granted interim protection from arrest by the Supreme Court in the cases filed against her after she had contended that there was a genuine threat to her life.
