Maharashtra: After teen, one more booked for post glorifying Aurangzeb

CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR: A day after a 14-year-old boy was booked for a post praising Aurangzeb, the Maharashtra police have slapped a case on a social media user for suggesting celebration of the Mughal ruler’s coronation anniversary.

Based on a complaint by Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar resident Chandrakant Navpute, police in Cidco area have charged the man under Sections 295-A (for deliberate acts that insult the religion or religious beliefs of any class of people) and 153-A (for promoting enmity between different groups and acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) of IPC.

Navpute said the post suggesting celebration of Aurangzeb’s 364th coronation on June 13 “has hurt my sentiments”.

“We have registered an FIR and efforts are on to arrest the man for the message,” Cidco police inspector Sambhaji Pawar told TOI.

Barely 24 hours ago, police in Beed had booked the teen. Some right-wing organisations had observed a bandh on Friday against his post, although the boy had subsequently deleted it.

Four days ago, displays of Aurangzeb’s posters in Ahmednagar and a social media post glorifying Tipu Sultan in Kolhapur had triggered violence.

Amid the row, leader of opposition in the state legislative council, Ambadas Danve of Shiv Sena (UBT), accused BJP of “bringing out the ghost of Aurangzeb”. “People recognise your old habit or fear of the enemy, be it Aurangzeb or Pakistan,” Danve posted. He expressed concern over minors getting involved in such episodes. “It is less likely that these children are doing all this on their own.”


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