Bohra magazine editor held

NAGPUR, Jan 8: Morabbi Iliyas Morabbi Tayyeb, editor and publisher of a monthly magazine, Isbat-e-Kashaf, was arrested by the Lakadganj p...

NAGPUR, Jan 8: Morabbi Iliyas Morabbi Tayyeb, editor and publisher of a monthly magazine, Isbat-e-Kashaf, was arrested by the Lakadganj police today for publishing matter aimed at hurting religious sentiments of a certain community.

He was arrested following the registration of offences against him under Section 295 A of the Indian Penal Code. Sometime back, a section of the press carried statements by Maulana Tayyeb Maulana Razzak Chimthanawala, who heads a Dawoodi Bohra sect with its headquarters at Qaemibagh, Shantinagar. The Maulana had allegedly claimed that the era of Prophet Mohammed had come to an end with the installation of one of his ancestors as the Imam. He claimed to have inherited the spiritual mantle and now bears the title of Imam.

His statements had angered the city8217;s Muslim community. On the night of December 27, a few thousand people gathered outside Chimthanawala8217;s home and demanded an explanation. Amid slogan-shouting and minor violent outbursts, the police brought thesituation under control.

Following the incident, Chimthanawala issued public notices in local newspapers clarifying that he and his community had complete faith in the tenets of Islam as propounded by Prophet Mohammed. The Maulana also offered his apologies if the sentiments of some people had been hurt.

A police complaint had also been filed against the publisher of a local newspaper for carrying the controversial remarks. However, all the controversial remarks were repeated in the December 1 issue of Isbat-e-Kashaf, a magazine brought out by Chimthanawala8217;s sect. The cover of the magazine says that it8217;s contents had the consent and permission of the spiritual head, Maulana Tayyeb Maulana Razzak. Morabbi Iliyas Morabbi Tayyeb is a follower of the Maulana.

When the contents of the magazine became public, discontent and anger once again spread among the Muslim community. On the basis of the contents of the magazine, one Riyazuddin Mohammed Sayeed, a resident of Mominpura, filed a complaint atLakadganj police station on Wednesday.

Offences under Section 295 A were registered and this afternoon, the Lakadganj police arrested Tayyeb.