Irfan Abubakar Shaikh, the secretary of Raza Educational Welfare society in Mumbai filed an FIR against Republic’s Arnab Goswami.
Mumbai| Mumbai police, on Saturday, registered an FIR against editor and owner of Republic TV channel Arnab Goswami, following a complaint that he tried to create hatred against the Muslim community last month.
The case was filed at Pydhonie police station and the probe has been initiated, police officials said.
FIR was filed by Irfan Abubakar Shaikh, secretary of Raza Educational Welfare Society and a resident of Null Bazar in South Mumbai.
In his complaint to the police, he alleged that both the channel and Arnab Goswami were trying to build hatred against the Muslim community and targeted a mosque in Bandra that had no link to the protest by migrant workers on April 14.
The show was telecasted on April 29.
“The channel had telecasted the protest of migrants that had gathered near Bandra railway station on April 14, during which he had raised a question as to why are mob gathering only near mosques during the lockdown,” Shaikh said in his statement to police.
“There was no link or issue related to the mosque near the Bandra station. The only issue was that the migrant workers had gathered in the open space near the mosque. But Arnab Goswami purposely highlighted the mosque to create communal disturbance in the city,” said Irfan in his complaint to the police.
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Shaikh highlighted remarks by Arnab like ‘Ab se thodi der pehle Mumbai ke Bandra me Jama Masjid Hai.’ Aur Is Jama Masjid Ke Pass Achanak Hazaro logo Ki Bheed Jama Hogae’.‘Mumbai ke Bandra me masjid Ke pass kisne bheed jutae.’Lockdown me har Bheed Masjid ke pass kyu Juti Hai?’
Irfan Abubakar Shaikh claimed that the remarks fuelled hatred against Muslims.
The footage of the show was also handed over in a pen drive by the complainant, which the police claim will act as crucial evidence in the case.
A case has been registered under sections 153, 153 A, 295 A, 500, 505 (2), 511 and 120 (B) of the Indian Penal Code.
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