Jitendra Tyagi Moves SC to Club Criminal Cases in Uttarakhand & J&K, Court Seeks Response

New Delhi: Jitendra Narayan Tyagi has moved the Supreme Court requesting to club various criminal cases against him into one case. Tyagi, the former chairman of Uttar Pradesh Shia Central Waqf Board, has various criminal charges against him, including hate speech for purportedly insulting Islam and the Muslim community.

A bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta heard Tyagi’s petition, urging the governments of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and Uttarakhand to respond. The petition requested the consolidation of the cases against him, which include charges from incidents in both states.

Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta, in issuing a notice, provided the governments with four weeks to reply to the petition. The bench also allowed Tyagi’s lawyer, Advocate Anurag Kishore, to serve notices on the standing counsel for Uttarakhand and J&K states.

The case stems from several controversial statements made by Tyagi, especially regarding Islam and its followers. One case against him was registered in June 2021 when he released a book titled *Muhammad* at the Haridwar Press Club, which allegedly contained defamatory content about Prophet Muhammad. Subsequently, a complaint was filed in Srinagar after Tyagi’s comments in Lucknow, which were broadcast on TV in July 2021, causing outrage among the Muslim community.

In December 2021, FIR was lodged against Tyagi again in Uttarakhand after his comments at a religious conclave in Haridwar. Tyagi was accused of making derogatory comments against Islam at the Dharma Sansad, which took place between December 17 and 19, 2021. Another FIR was lodged against him in January 2022 on similar charges.

The attorney of Tyagi, Advocate Anurag Kishore, expressed concerns about the safety of his client, particularly in view of the life threats received to appear before the court proceedings in Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand. The lawyer made a request for interim protection to Tyagi, asserting that two security guards issued to him were inadequate, owing to the severity of the threats. The Court, however, did not issue this request and said, “Threats exist everywhere.”

Despite initially being inclined to dismiss the petition, the Court decided to issue a notice to the concerned states, agreeing to examine Tyagi’s plea for the consolidation of the cases. Tyagi had also mentioned the risks he faces while traveling to J&K, where he was summoned to appear before the local court in Srinagar for allegedly insulting Islam and Prophet Muhammad.

The case continues to draw significant attention due to its religious and political sensitivities, and the Supreme Court’s decision will have critical implications for Tyagi’s legal future.