The former Delhi police commissioner Rakesh Asthana was accused of failing to act on hate speech delivered at a “Dharam Sansad,” but the Supreme Court dismissed the contempt case against him after the Center announced that a chargesheet had been filed. A bench of Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice J.B. Pardiwala took the declaration and a copy of the accusation sheet that were provided by additional solicitor general K.M. Natraj under official record. The petition for contempt was brought by Tushar Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi’s great-grandson.

Natraj also filed a sworn affidavit in which the Delhi police claimed the investigation was fair and transparent. “The chargesheet and affidavit have been entered into the record by learned additional solicitor general Mr. K.M. Natraj…” In light of the filing of the chargesheet, CJI Chandrachud stated in a brief order that the continuation of the contempt petition is no longer necessary in the interests of justice. The bench refused to give a copy of the chargesheet to Tushar Gandhi’s attorney.
Following the government’s argument that the investigation was “advanced stage,” the court ordered the Delhi police to present the chargesheet pertaining to the investigation into the hate speeches made in December 2021 at the prior hearing on February 20. The Delhi police received a reprimand from the court on January 13 for filing a FIR five months after the speeches even though no chargesheet had been submitted.