The Calcutta high court on February 6 quashed an FIR against Paresh Rawal for his “fish-eating Bengalis” comment during the Gujarat poll campaign in December 2022. Justice Rajasekhar Mantha said, “The speech in question was made in Gujarati and there is no English translation of the text till date. There have been some comments against the speech by persons who may not necessarily understand Gujarati. Above all, the petitioner has clarified and tendered an apology… The further continuation of the FIR and the proceedings is not desirable.”
The actor and former BJP MP had moved the court for quashing the FIR lodged against him on December 2, 2022 by CPM state secretary Md. Salim under multiple penal sections including those for a bid to incite riots.
Paresh Rawal had in December last said at a rally in Gujarat while talking about price rise and illegal migration, “What will you do with gas cylinders? Cook fish for Bengalis?”