Five Hindu nationalist men including Supreme Court lawyer and former Delhi BJP spokesperson Ashwini Upadhyay have been arrested by the Delhi Police in connection with anti-Muslim slogans at Jantar Mantar on Sunday.
The other detainees are Deepak Singh Hindu, Vineet Kranti, Preet Singh and Vinod Sharma, who is the head of Sudarshan Vahini.
The police action came after the public outcry.
Delhi police were under fire on Monday for registering ‘FIR against unknown persons’ whereas the identities of organisers and personnel involved were evident.
The case is registered under IPC sections 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups) and 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) as well as under the DDMA Act pertaining to violation of Covid guidelines.
“In late-night operation, they all have been detained and now legal documents work is going on before making their arrest. Upadhyay reached Connaught Place police station at around 3 am and joined the investigation,” Indian Express quoted senior police officer as saying.
“Jab mulle kaate jayenge, Ram-Ram chillayenge [Muslims will chant Ram-Ram when they will be slaughtered],” slogans were shouted during the event.
Many civil groups including opposition parties have demanded the arrest of key organisers of ‘Bharat Jodo Movement’ which police claimed happened without permission. Over 5000 people gathered in Jantar Mantar, barely two kilometres away from Parliament, responding to a call given by Supreme Court lawyer and former spokesperson of the Delhi unit of Bharatiya Janata Party Ashwini Upadhyay.
