Politicians, journalists, others under police scanner for hate remarks

Besides Owaisi, Nupur Sharma and Yati Narasimhananda, police will investigate roles of various social media entities in promoting false and wrong information

Controversial former BJP spokespersons Nupur Sharma and Naveen Kumar Jindal, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and Hindutva proponent Yati Narsinghanand are named in FIRs registered by Delhi Police for remarks made in public and social media posts that it said were disrupting peace and harmony and indulging in hate-mongering.

Delhi Police has registered two FIRs against people, which also include journalist Saba Naqvi, Peace Party’s Shabad Chauhan, Maulana Mufti Nadeem from Rajasthan, Hindu Mahasabha’s Pooja Shakun, Gulzar Ansari and Anil Kumar Meena.

A Delhi Police spokesperson said the FIRs were registered following an analysis of social media posts that were intended to disrupt public tranquillity and inciting people on divisive lines.

Also Read — Naveen Jindal, Saba Naqvi booked for 'spreading hate'

One of the FIRs pertains to Nupur Sharma, whose controversial remarks against Prophet Mohammed on a TV debate sparked an international outcry, while the other is related to remarks and comments on social media.

Delhi Police has also sent notices to social media organisations seeking details about the accounts from which comments were posted. Delhi Police appeals to everyone to desist from posting anything that may disrupt social and communal harmony, the spokesperson said.

The FIRs were registered by the Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operation (IFSO) unit of the Special Cell under Sections 153 (Wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 295 (Injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class) and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code among others.

According to officials, the IFSO will probe the roles of various social media entities in promoting false and wrong information with an intention to create unrest on the cyberspace and that have ramifications on the physical space thereby compromising with the social fabric of the country.

Delhi Police has earlier filed another FIR on a complaint filed by Nupur Sharma that she has received death threats over her controversial remarks. She was then provided security by the policy.

The BJP had suspended Nupur Sharma while it expelled Delhi media head Jindal after their remarks created an international furore with several Gulf countries making public their displeasure and protest over the issue.