Row over Shivaji-Tipu Sultan comment: FIRs name BJP, Cong city chiefs, youth leaders of both parties for stone pelting

Speaking about the violence, Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Ranjan Kumar Sharma had said on Sunday that both sides threw stones. Three Congress and two BJP workers, two women constables and two journalists were injured in the stone pelting. Both sides subsequently registered FIRs against each other at Shivajinagar police station.

The FIR against Congress workers and office bearers was registered based on the complaint filed by Puneet Shrikant Joshi, a BJP member. The FIR names Congress City unit head Arvind Shinde, Congress youth wing general secretary for Maharashtra Akshay Jain, Gaurav Balande, who is the Kasba constituency unit head for Congress, Sagar Dhadve and other unidentified workers. Police have invoked Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita sections including 118(1) (Voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 189(2) (Member of unlawful assembly), 189(3) (Rioting), 324(4) (Mischief causing damage) and 191(2) (Rioting with deadly weapon) along with provisions of the Maharashtra Police Act.

In a case registered against BJP leaders and office bearers, the exact same set of BNS provisions have been invoked. Based on a complaint filed by Congress’s Prachi Dudhane, the police have booked Ghate, a BJP youth wing leader Dushyant Mohol and 50 to 60 other BJP workers.

An officer from Shivajinagar police station, where these cross complaints were registered, said, “As part of the initial probe into the two cases, we are in the process of identifying all the suspects involved in the scuffle and stone pelting. We are looking at video camera recordings. Based on this probe, notices will be issued to the accused persons directing them to appear before the police for investigation.”