Maharashtra Man Held for 'Objectionable' Post on Prophet Mohammad

This comes after suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma elicited controversy over her derogation of the Prophet.

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Police have arrested a 28-year-old man in Maharashtra's Thane district for his alleged objectionable and provocative post on Prophet Mohammad on a social messaging platform, an official said on Saturday, 25 June.

The accused, Nikesh Raju Pashte, a 'mathadi' worker (porter in wholesale market) from Sangampada in Bhiwandi town in the district, was arrested on Friday, June 24, he said.

"A plumber complained to the police about the objectionable and provocative post on the Prophet made in a WhatsApp group. Based on the complaint, the police registered the offence and arrested the accused. The complainant said that the post could trigger tension between two communities," the official of Nizampura police station said.

An offence was registered under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 153(A) (promoting enmity between different groups), 295(A) (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) and 499 (defamation) against the accused, an official statement said.

The BJP had on June 5 suspended its national spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled Delhi BJP media head Jindal after their alleged derogatory remarks against the Prophet led to an outrage in India and Gulf countries.