Raja Singh, a BJP MLA from Goshamahal, was arrested on Tuesday in Hyderabad for allegedly making derogatory remarks about Prophet Mohammed in a video posted on social media. The arrest came hours after large-scale protests over Singh’s remarks erupted in the city in the early hours of Tuesday.
Minor clashes were reported in Hyderabad’s Old City, and protests were held outside the office of Hyderabad Police Commissioner CV Anand.
The legislator is also allegedly seen in a 10-minute video slamming comedian Munawar Faruqui, who performed in Hyderabad on August 20. Singh had accused Faruqui of insulting Hindu gods and threatened to disrupt the event if he did not stop. Before the show, the police took him into custody as a precaution.
The Hyderabad Police have booked the BJP MLA for making derogatory comments against the Prophet and hurting religious sentiments under Sections 295, 505 and 153A of the Indian Penal Code.
“We request everyone to maintain law and order in the city. We assure that stern action will be taken against Raja Singh. We have received multiple complaints against him from various police stations under the Hyderabad Commissionerate,” said DCP South Zone P Sai Chaitanya.
The incident comes months after the BJP suspended spokesperson Nupur Sharma for making similar derogatory statements on a television debate.