A criminal case has been registered against Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy in a police station here for allegedly promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion.
“The complaint is about an article written in DNA, which is allegedly against the Muslim community,” Vishwas Nangre-Patil, Additional Commissioner of Police (West region), told The Hindu on Tuesday. “A case was registered under Section 153A of the Indian Penal Code in the Vakola station on Monday as per the directives of the Bombay High Court.”
Abraham Mathai, president of the Harmony Foundation, said: “I had written a complaint to the Mumbai Commissioner of Police and the Vakola station on July 26 that the article [written on July 16] is dangerous to Indian society and creates a rift between communities. But they said they were taking legal opinion. So I was compelled to move the High Court.”
Mr. Mathai said he had also written to the Harvard University president, urging him to bar Dr. Swamy from giving any lecture at, or having any association with, the institution. “I had earlier written to him. Now I have written again, saying a criminal case has been filed against Dr. Swamy.” An offence registered under this section is non-bailable.
Asked about the future course of action, Mr. Nangre Patil said a similar complaint was registered in Delhi. “We will check all legal angles. We will see what the ingredients of that complaint are. After due verification, the police will take action.”
