Lucknow: A case has been registered against Shayer Munawwar Rana in Hazratganj Kotwali for allegedly promoting animosity between groups on religious grounds. According to police, Munavvar Rana had given an interview to a news channel in reference to a cartoon published in a magazine in France and the murder of a person in which his statement was supposed to spread animosity in different communities and adversely affect social harmony.
A senior police official said on Monday that a sub-inspector posted at Hazratganj Kotwali on Sunday registered a case against Munawwar Rana. Sections 153-A (attempt to spread hatred among people on the basis of religion and language), 295-A (malicious act intended to insult the religious sentiment of a class), 505 (1 (b) (of the public) against him The case has been registered under Sections 67 and 66 of the Information Technology (Amendment) Act, 2008 (505 (2) (giving hate speech) and mischief with intent to intimidate and incite to crime.
While filing a case against Rana, the Sub-Inspector of Police said that there is a real fear that the public peace will be disturbed by Rana’s statement which is going viral on social media. The senior police officer informed that the police has registered an FIR taking cognizance of the interview and the matter is being investigated.
