Following demands for immediate arrest of comedian Tanmay Bhat, the Mumbai police are seeking legal opinion to find out whether there are enough grounds for registering an FIR against him.
“A written application from the cinema wing of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena has been received. We have taken a transcript of the contents of the video and are seeking legal opinion on further course of action. We have also contacted Facebook and YouTube authorities and asked them to block access to the video,” said Mumbai police Spokesperson Deputy Commissioner Sangramsinh Nishandar.
Post by Tanmay BhatThe video posted by Mr. Bhat on May 26, depicts morphed faces of singer Lata Mangeshkar and cricketer Sachin Tendulkar superimposed over his own in an imaginary conversation about cricketer Virat Kohli’s batting skills. The video, the contents of which were found offensive by many, went viral, attracting the attention of political parties.
On Sunday evening, Ameya Khopkar, head of the MNS’ cine wing, approached the Shivaji Park police with a written application seeking an FIR against Bhat.
The outcry against the video continued on Monday, with senior MNS leader Shalini Thackeray sitting on a protest on the premises of the Cyber police station in BKC demanding immediate action against Mr. Bhat.
The protest continued for around four hours till senior officials assured her that appropriate action would be taken.
BJP joins issueThe Bharatiya Janata Party, too, jumped into the fray on Monday, with party leader Ashish Shelar contacting Mumbai Police Commissioner D.D. Padsalgikar.
