Bombay High Court Quashes FIR Against Lawyer For Shouting "Pannas Khoke Ekdum Okay" Against Shiv Sena (Shinde) Leader

The Bombay High Court quashed an FIR against lawyer Sharad Mali, who, along with farmers, protested against Agriculture Minister Abdul Sattar by shouting slogans and throwing cotton and empty cartons at his convoy. The court emphasized the right to protest, noting that the protestors were agitating over cotton prices and did not intend to wrongfully restrain the minister. The court found that the police’s charge of unlawful assembly was not applicable as the protest did not disturb public peace. The bench highlighted that prohibitory orders were issued to maintain peace, but not all agitations disturb public order. The court concluded that the FIR lacked sufficient grounds and quashed it, underscoring the importance of citizens’ right to protest within legal bounds.