For inflammatory slogans and stone pelting in front of mosque, BJP councillor booked by police in Madhya Pradesh

The police were alerted around 4 pm on April 12 about the procession moving near the mosque. Lakda, accompanied by SI Toran Singh and other officers, reached the site and found the procession led by the BJP leader, along with associates Monu Ojha, Vishal Annotia, and Sanjay alias Bagga Raghuvanshi.

Asked about permission for the procession and using a DJ, the group allegedly responded defiantly, questioning the police’s authority.

Despite efforts to stop the procession, the participants allegedly proceeded to halt in front of the mosque, playing the DJ at high volume and shouting provocative slogans targeting a specific community, including remarks like, “You won’t understand like this; we’ll have to send you to Pakistan.”

The situation escalated as the BJP leader and 10-15 others allegedly refused to comply with police instructions, resorted to sloganeering, and began throwing stones, police said.

Additional police forces were summoned to disperse the crowd, and the situation was brought under control, police said.

Based on the complaint, a case was registered under Sections 191(2), 299, and 132 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, for offences including unlawful assembly, hurting religious sentiments, and obstructing public servants.

When contacted, Kushwaha said: “I don’t understand why the administration is targeting me. They are booking me in criminal cases. My people are being booked. The investigation should look at the evidence before booking me in a criminal case.”

A group of Vishwa Hindu Parishad workers, who allegedly caused a disruption at Hanuman Chauraha in Guna on Monday over the incident, were also booked.

BJP spokesperson Narendra Saluja told The Indian Express: “Everyone can see videos where stone pelting began from the mosque. Why is a BJP councillor booked? This must be investigated in a fair manner.”

According to Nirbhay Brijmohan Singh Bhadoria, a police officer stationed at Kotwali police station, the VHP workers initially gathered at Hanuman Chauraha to proceed to the District Collector’s office to submit a memorandum. However, a group led by Ranjit Khatik, Ashish Raghuvanshi, Kailash Maurya, Manish Sharma (a former corporator), Rajendra Kushwaha, and 20-25 others allegedly returned to the chauraha and began shouting slogans, triggering a road blockade.

Despite repeated appeals by the police to disperse, the group continued their protest, disrupting public order. The incident, captured on CCTV footage from the police control room, led to the registration of a case against the accused for obstructing public movement and disturbing the peace.