FIR against Hindu religious leader Mahant Ramgiri Maharaj in Thane over communal speech

Ramgiri Maharaj during a recently held religious event at Shah Panchale village in Sinnar taluka of Nashik district made the alleged derogatory remarks against Islam and Prophet Mohammed and a video clipping went viral on social media.

The Mumbra police have booked the religious leader under sections 353(1)(B)(C), 353(2)(3), 299, 302, 196(1)(9), 356, 352, 351 of the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) for uttering words with intent to hurt religious feelings and others for outraging religious feelings, promoting enmity between groups over religion, intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace and criminal intimidation, etc.

Earlier on Friday, communal tensions were reported in several districts of Maharashtra, including Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jalgaon and Ahmednagar. The unrest was ignited by a bandh organised by the Sakal Hindu Samaj to protest alleged atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh.

This was compounded by counter-protests by Muslim outfits in response to the alleged derogatory remarks against Islam made by Ramgiri Maharaj. Six police personnel were reportedly injured in the unrest.

Multiple cases were filed by the police in connection with the communal violence.

Notably, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde shared a stage with Mahant Ramgiri Maharaj on Friday, during which he referred to the seer as a “saint” and assured him that “in Maharashtra, no one would dare lay a hand on a saint”.