New Delhi: The Pune police on Wednesday, January 5 took custody of Hindu right seer Kalicharan Maharaj in relation to alleged inflammatory speeches he made during a ‘Shivpratap Din’ event held in Pune on December 19, the Hindu reported.
The police also arrested five others in relation to the case, including Hindutva leader Milind Ekbote, Nandakishor Ekbote, Mohanrao Shete, Dipak Nagpure and Captain Digendra Kumar.
Maharaj, alias Abhijit Sarag, had earlier been arrested by Chhattisgarh police on December 30 from neighbouring Madhya Pradesh for alleged derogatory comments made against Mahatma Gandhi during a ‘Dharma Sansad’ (literally religious parliament) in Raipur on December 25.
Kalicharan Maharaj being arrested by Chhattisgarh police in connection with his comments at the Raipur Dharma Sansad on December 30. Photo: PTI
Following a transit remand issued by a Raipur court, the Hindutva leader and the other accused will be brought to Pune where he will be presented before a court.
The December 19 event was organised in Pune’s Shukrawar Peth by the Samasta Hindutva Aghadi, a right-wing organisation led by Miling Ekbote, to commemorate Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj killing Mughal general Afzal Khan in 1659.
An FIR had been filed in relation to the event at the Khadak police station on December 28 after the police had analysed videos from the event, the Indian Express reported. As per the FIR, the speakers at the event made statements intended to hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims and Christians in particular and to cause communal hatred.
Maharaj and the other accused have been charged with IPC Sections 295A (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings), 298 (Uttering words with deliberate intent to wound religious feelings), 505 (2) (False statements or rumours creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes and 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention).
Maharaj is facing additional charges in Chhattisgarh in relation to his comments at the Raipur Dharma Sansad as well.