Pune: The Pune Police has registered a case against Hindu saint Kalicharan Maharaj, right-wing leader Milind Ekbote and four others for making provocative speeches and hurting religious sentiments during an event here. To celebrate the death of Mughal general Afzal Khan by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the Samasta Hindu Aghadi organization of Ekbote organized ‘Shiv Pratap Din’ program in Maharashtra on 19th December.
According to the police, Kalicharan Maharaj, Ekbote, Captain Digendra Kumar (retd) and others attended the event. Inspector of Police (Crime) Harshvardhan Gade said that Captain Kumar is a Kargil war hero who was awarded the ‘Maha Vir Chakra’ for his brave deeds in the Kargil War.
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On Tuesday, sections 295 (A) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) (intentional and malicious intent to hurt the religious sentiments of any class) were filed against Kalicharan Maharaj, Ekbote, Captain Kumar and three others at Khadak police station, officials said. A case has been registered under 298 (intentional intention to hurt the religious sentiments of any person) and 505 (2) (spreading false statements, rumours, etc. at a place of worship with intent to cause enmity, hatred or ill-will).
According to the FIR, all the accused allegedly made provocative speeches with an intention to hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims and Christians and to create communal rift among the people. A police officer said that they registered the case taking suo motu cognizance after examining the video footage of the incident.
An FIR has also been registered against Kalicharan Maharaj in Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh for using derogatory words against Mahatma Gandhi during an event in Raipur recently. Ekbote is an accused in the Koregaon-Bhima violence case in Pune district in 2018. (agency)