The Crossbill News Desk
The Thane city police in Maharashtra on Saturday (August 17) registered an FIR against Mahant Ramgiri Maharaj, a prominent Hindu religious leader, for allegedly making derogatory remarks about Islam and Prophet Mohammed.
A police officer confirmed that the FIR was registered at 1 am on Saturday by the Mumbra police, following a complaint lodged by 31-year-old Maulana Sajid-Ul-Rehman from Mumbra, The Indian Express reported.
Earlier on Friday, a derogatory statement made by the Mahant regarding Prophet Muhammad and the Muslim community led to heightened tension in several areas of Maharashtra.
A video of Mahant making an offensive statement about Prophet at Shah Panchale village in Sinnar taluka of Nashik district went viral on social media, provoking outrage among the Muslim community in Maharashtra.
In districts such as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Nashik, and Nagar, hundreds of Muslims took to the streets to protest. The demonstrations created significant tension in these areas, keeping the police on high alert throughout the day. The protesters demanded the arrest of the Mahant.
Following the development, the Mumbra police booked the religious leader under sections 353(1)(B)(C), 353(2)(3), 299, 302, 196(1)(9), 356, 352, and 351 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS). These sections cover offenses related to uttering words with the intent to hurt religious feelings, outraging religious sentiments, promoting enmity between groups based on religion, intentional insult with the intent to provoke a breach of peace, and criminal intimidation, among other charges.
However, despite the outrage, the Mahant remained resolute, stating that he had already expressed everything he intended to say.
“Our religion and culture follow the path of peace. But if someone tries to disturb the peace, then we have to be prepared to respond. It is our aim that Hindus should remain strong and united. Hindu society is suffering due to disorganization,” Deccan Chronicle quoted Mahant as saying.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde shared a stage with Mahant Ramgiri Maharaj on Friday, where he referred to the seer as a “saint” and assured him that “in Maharashtra, no one would dare lay a hand on a saint,” reported The Indian Express.
A police officer confirmed that the FIR was registered at 1 am on Saturday by the Mumbra police, following a complaint lodged by 31-year-old Maulana Sajid-Ul-Rehman from Mumbra, The Indian Express reported.
Earlier on Friday, a derogatory statement made by the Mahant regarding Prophet Muhammad and the Muslim community led to heightened tension in several areas of Maharashtra.
A video of Mahant making an offensive statement about Prophet at Shah Panchale village in Sinnar taluka of Nashik district went viral on social media, provoking outrage among the Muslim community in Maharashtra.
In districts such as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Nashik, and Nagar, hundreds of Muslims took to the streets to protest. The demonstrations created significant tension in these areas, keeping the police on high alert throughout the day. The protesters demanded the arrest of the Mahant.
Following the development, the Mumbra police booked the religious leader under sections 353(1)(B)(C), 353(2)(3), 299, 302, 196(1)(9), 356, 352, and 351 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS). These sections cover offenses related to uttering words with the intent to hurt religious feelings, outraging religious sentiments, promoting enmity between groups based on religion, intentional insult with the intent to provoke a breach of peace, and criminal intimidation, among other charges.
However, despite the outrage, the Mahant remained resolute, stating that he had already expressed everything he intended to say.
“Our religion and culture follow the path of peace. But if someone tries to disturb the peace, then we have to be prepared to respond. It is our aim that Hindus should remain strong and united. Hindu society is suffering due to disorganization,” Deccan Chronicle quoted Mahant as saying.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde shared a stage with Mahant Ramgiri Maharaj on Friday, where he referred to the seer as a “saint” and assured him that “in Maharashtra, no one would dare lay a hand on a saint,” reported The Indian Express.
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