‘Mohammed Deepak,’ the gym owner from Kotdwar, Purari Garhwal, who gained the spotlight after his confrontation with the Bajrang Dal members over an alleged assault on a Muslim shopkeeper for having the name ‘Baba’ in his name, was arrested Thursday, his close friend told FoEJ Media.
Deepak has been allegedly arrested for abusing, assaulting, and threatening a businessman, the police said. The arrest comes ahead of a complaint lodged by a businessman identified as Sanjeev Tonk at Kotdwar Kotwali on October 1. Deepak reportedly abused the shopkeeper and threatened to kill him.
Initially a case was registered under section 351(2) (criminal intimidation) and 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Deepak was arrested as a preventive measure due to concerns about a possible breach of peace and disruption of law and order.
Under Section 170 of the BNSS, police can take preventive action when they have reason to believe that a person is preparing to commit a cognizable offense and that there is no other way to prevent it.
Deepak was arrested as a preventive measure due to concerns about a possible breach of peace and disruption of law and order.
The police, during the investigation, examined CCTV footage, photographs, and videos and added Sections 196 (promoting enmity between different groups) and 115 (voluntarily causing hurt) of the BNS.
“The evidence prima facie revealed that the accused abused the complainant and also threatened him,” the Pauri police said in a statement.
“Considering the available evidence, the activities of the accused, and the possibility of disturbance to peace and law and order in the area, Kotdwar Police took prompt and effective action and arrested Deepak, alias Akki, alias Mohammad Deepak under Section 170 of the BNSS,” the statement said.
Police also conducted a flag march in the Kotdwar Municipal Corporation area on Thursday evening as a precautionary measure, the Indian Express reported.
Deepak came into the spotlight in January after stepping in during an argument between Bajrang Dal members and an elderly Muslim shopkeeper in Kotdwar.
The protesters had allegedly objected to the word “Baba” being used in the name of the shopkeeper’s establishment. During the argument, Deepak identified himself as “Mohammad Deepak.”
“The mob asked me my name. I said, ‘What does my name have to do with this?’ But when they kept insisting, I replied, ‘My name is Muhammad Deepak,” Deepak told FoEJ Media.
