BJP MP Tejasvi Surya booked for alleged hate speech over Bengaluru shopkeeper assault

“A complaint was made by an organisation named ‘Campaign Against Hate Speech’ before the Election Commission,” said the police.

Surya has been booked under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 153(a) (promoting disharmony or feelings of hatred, enmity, or ill will between different religious, racial, or other groups), 295 (a) (deliberate and malicious acts that outrage religious feelings of any class are punishable) and the Representation of the People Act Section 123 (3a) (The promotion of, or attempt to promote, feelings of enmity or hatred between different classes of the citizens of India by a candidate or his agent)

On March 18, Surya took to X to share a video of the shopkeeper, Mukesh, 26, who was allegedly attacked by six men for playing Hanuman Chalisa during Azan (Islamic call to prayer).

Surya wrote: “A Hindu shopkeeper who was playing bhajans at his shop was assaulted by anti-social elements saying bhajans aren’t allowed during the time of ‘azaan’. The emboldening of such elements is a direct result of Congress’s appeasement politics. Just a few days back, people who shouted “Pakistan Zindabad” were given bail. With such political backing available to Jihadis, naturally such incidents of crime against Hindus have risen in our State. CM must stop setting wrong precedents. I call upon him to update the State on what action is initiated against the miscreants in this case.”

The complaint stated Surya’s statement targeted the Muslim community and attempted to create hatred between Hindus and Muslims.