New Delhi: Delhi Police has booked Delhi Minorities Commission chairman Zafarul-Islam Khan on sedition charges, two days after he allegedly wrote some “provocative” posts on social media.
A petition has also been filed in the Delhi High Court, seeking action against Khan for the post, in which he used the term ‘Hindutva bigots’.
An FIR was filed against Khan Thursday evening on the complaint of a Vasant Kunj resident, Kaushal Kant Sharma.
According to the FIR, which has been accessed by ThePrint, Khan has been booked under sections 124 A (sedition) and 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc. and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) of the Indian Penal Code.
In his complaint, Sharma alleged that on 28 April, Khan wrote some “provocative” posts on Twitter and Facebook, with the intent to “cause disharmony and create a rift in the society”.
The complaint further said the posts were “deliberate and seditious with malicious intent to further hurt sentiments”.
Khan has since issued an apology on Twitter for his post.
A Delhi Police official said Khan’s social media posts before 28 April will also be probed.
ThePrint reached Khan for a comment through texts, but he refused.
Also read: Arrest of 2 Jamia students during lockdown for February riots in Delhi kicks up a storm
Issued apology for his post
In his post written both on Twitter and Facebook, Khan had thanked Kuwait for standing with the Indian Muslims.
“The Hindutva bigots calculated that given the huge economic stakes involved the Muslim and Arab world will not care about the persecution of Muslims in India,” he wrote.
“The bigot forgot that Indian Muslims enjoy huge goodwill in the eyes of of the Arab and Muslim world for their services over centuries to Islamic causes…”
In the post, Khan even mentioned that controversial religious preacher Zakir Naik is a “respected” household name in the Arab and Muslim world.
Naik, a fugitive, is being probed by the National Investigation Agency for his alleged role in terror funding and money laundering cases in the country.
On Friday, Khan, however, issued an apology on Twitter for the post.
“I realise that my tweet was ill-timed and insensitive in view of our country facing a medical emergency and fighting an unseen enemy. I apologise to all whose sentiments were hurt,” he said.
Also read: Sharjeel Imam charged for sedition, Delhi Police says his speech led to riots in Jamia area
Khan invited sponsored terrorism: Plea in HC
The petition against Khan, filed by one Manoranjan Kumar, states that he “used the medium of social media and networking to propagate hatred amongst the Muslim community against Hindu Community as a whole as the Respondent No. 1 has played a wicked game by not even hinting as to who specifically he referred to as Hindutva Bigots, thus implicating the whole Hindu Community and outraging their character and conduct on volatile social media turf Facebook”.
With the post, he says, Khan has “indirectly invited members of the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) to plot and conspire contingency plans in case they feel to declare war on Hindu Community thus inviting more internationally sponsored terrorism as happened in past in Kashmir and Pakistan”.
Kumar also demands that Khan’s Facebook account be “forfeited… in interest of public peace and national security”, and that he be removed from his post as the Chairperson of the Commission.
Zafarul-Islam Khan is a traitor. He should be in tihar jail rather than in minority commission. Apology from traitors is a tactical tool and is meaningless as a traitor remains a traitor. There are many other people particularly self labelled librandus who are working against India’s interest. There is no need to feed these snakes and allow them to bite again and again. Democracy doesn’t mean to allow minority to damage majority interests.
Another proponent of the theory I will not educate myself with the realities of the world. I will not accept that my community is killing their own all over the world and I would like to take the world back to dark ages . The excuse is I AM THE VICTIM so if I do RIOTING and burn buses it’s ok.
what about Kapil Mishra and Anurag Thakur who gave a peaceful speech.? What about Gopal the innocent RSS pup who shot in public in front of Delhi police? What about Kapil Gujjar who shot on public by semi automatic gun infront of Delhi police??
What they did is great work, and you say the government is not against muslims 👏👏👏
Position and people always change. What doesn’t change is the character. He must face the music for his irresponsible remarks. He should respect the position and the responsibilities.
I am wondering why are advocates filing cases against so many hindutva elements who are actually spreading hatred under the very same sections? Do they believe that the courts will not heed them?
please read ” are NOT filing cases”
True to its form The Print has deliberately omitted the threat of avalanche in the offensive post
You lot are a blot to journalism in India. Your disgraceful and unabashed bias against Hindus is reprehensible to say the least.
Omitting key details to show jihadis as the victims is your modus operandi.
Wow another write-up saying we are RIOTING and abusing because we are the ” victims ” . We have voted for AK and congrass and they will not oppose us.
Oh, don’t you know that Mr Zafarul is a gentleman & a free speech loving patriot? He is just like Mr. Shahrukh Pathan, that fun loving young man who loved fast bikes – don’t you know?
Psst psst…. don’t mention that Mr. Pathan is actually a drug smuggling criminal rioter, carrying an illegal firearm & Mr. Zafarul is clearly in serious breach of the law.
Zafarul-Islam Khan is a traitor. He should be in tihar jail rather than in minority commission. Apology from traitors is a tactical tool and is meaningless as a traitor remains a traitor. There are many other people particularly self labelled librandus who are working against India’s interest. There is no need to feed these snakes and allow them to bite again and again. Democracy doesn’t mean to allow minority to damage majority interests.
Zafarul-Islam Khan says that his tweet was ill-timed and insensitive…. It means he stand by his tweet except that it was ill-timed and insensitive. He thinks that he can fool with apology which is in fact confirmation of being a traitor. Police should immediately arrest him.