A criminal writ petition has been filed on Thursday in the Bombay High Court against the Maharashtra government, the Mumbai Commissioner of Police, the Election Commission, and MNS chief Raj Thackeray. The petition filed by Sunil Shukla, national president of the Uttar Bhartiya Vikas Sena, a political party, alleges that he and the north Indian community in Maharashtra have been subjected to repeated incidents of hate speech, targeted violence, and serious threats to their lives and liberty. 

“Over the past few months, the petitioner has been subjected to grave threats, harassment, and physical intimidation, purely because of his political identity and advocacy for north Indian rights. The situation has reached an alarming stage, with public calls to violence and actual physical assaults following thereafter,” the plea read. 

He cites multiple instances, including an October 6, 2024, attack at his office in Andheri, allegedly by 30 MNS supporters, and a Gudi Padwa rally on March 30, 2025, where Mr. Thackeray allegedly incited violence against Hindi-speaking residents.  

Following the Gudi Padwa speech, the petition documents multiple incidents of violence against Hindi-speaking individuals, including a bank manager, a security guard, and bank staff, which were reported by various news outlets in early April 2025. 

Mr. Shukla states that he has received numerous threats, including phone calls and messages, to “eliminate” him. The petition also mentions threats received through phone calls and messages in April 2025 by two MNS associates, Mahindra Manji Bhanushali and Avinash Anant Jadhav. 

The petition includes a timeline of complaints filed by him with various authorities, alleging a lack of action. He has sent email complaints to the DGP, the Commissioner of Police-Mumbai, the Home Minister, and the Governor of Maharashtra on October 9 and 16, 2024, the petition said. He has also submitted a written complaint to the Chief Minister on October 17, 2024. 

He also sent a complaint to the Governor, Union Home Minister, the Election Commission, the Maharashtra government, and the Commissioner of Police on July 10, 2025, expressing frustration over the lack of action. 

The petition states that after exhausting all remedies and not receiving a reply, Mr. Shukla filed a Special Leave Petition before the Supreme Court on April 15, 2025. The Supreme Court, in an order dated August 4, 2025, directed Mr. Shukla to approach the Bombay High Court, leading to the filing of the present petition. 

The petition seeks police protection for the petitioner and his family and the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against Mr. Thackeray.