Pune: Man held for desecrating Mahatma statue, gets 7 days jail for contempt of court

According to the police, Shukla allegedly climbed onto the statue of Mahatma Gandhi and damaged it with a koyta (machete), around 10.35 pm on Sunday. People at the spot caught him and informed police. A police team then detained Shukla and took him to Bundgarden police station.

Police constable Balasaheb Bhangre of the crime branch lodged the first information report (FIR) against Shukla, under section 324 (3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and sections of the Indian Arms Act. He was formally placed under arrest around 3.55 am on Monday.

Police said they seized the koyta and some religious books from his possession. Deputy Commissioner of Police Milind Mohite said a probe revealed that Shukla used to sell rudrakshas in several places, including Prayagraj, during the Maha Kumbh earlier this year. They said he purchased the koyta from Wai in Satara district. DCP Mohite said it appeared that he was mentally unstable and had a radicalised mindset.

The investigating officer in the case, police sub inspector Ganesh Chavan, produced Shukla before the magistrate court in Pune around 4:30 pm. Police sought his custody for three days to investigate whether he had ties to any radical group and probe the motive behind his attempt to damage the Gandhi statue.

Police said they were also probing his mobile phone call details to determine if he had been provoked by someone to commit the crime. The court then remanded Shukla to police custody for three days. Meanwhile, when the court asked Shukla whether he has any complaint against the police, he replied in an arrogant tone, “Is the court wearing bangles? I am not wearing bangles.”

The court then recorded the statements of eye witnesses to the incident. The accused tendered an apology for his statements causing contempt of court. Defence lawyer P N Mishra requested the court to forgive Shukla and give him a minimum punishment because he was insane. However, the defence lawyer could not produce any medical documents stating Shukla was insane. The police told the court that Shukla was not found to be insane since his arrest.

Assistant public prosecutor Neelam Yadav Ithape argued that Shukla had committed a serious offence and should be given maximum punishment for contempt of court, as per provisions 384 and 385 of the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
Judicial Magistrate First Class G R Dornalpalle passed an order sentencing Shukla to seven days imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 1,000.

The court stayed its order remanding Shukla to police custody. The court said that the police can take custody of him later (once the seven days’ imprisonment is served) . Then, as per the court order, the police took Shukla to Yerwada jail immediately.