Right wing members booked for ‘unauthorised raid’ at city hotel over ‘love jihad’ suspicion

Bhopal: The Bhopal police have registered an FIR against members of a right wing organisation accused of storming a hotel and conducting an unauthorised search in connection with an alleged “love jihad” case, days after another incident’s viral video showed a man being assaulted and paraded semi-nude sparked outrage on social media.

The FIR was lodged by Kotwali police on Wednesday based on a complaint filed by hotel owner Rajkumar Verma. In his complaint, Verma alleged that 10 to 15 people forcibly entered his hotel on Marwadi Road on May 18 around 4 pm while he was away.

According to the complaint, the group claimed that “love jihad” activities were taking place inside the hotel and insisted on searching the premises. Hotel staff members Raj Ahirwar and Manish Verma reportedly questioned the group’s authority to conduct such a raid, but the accused allegedly entered rooms, checked guests’ belongings and searched the property anyway.

The complaint stated that no illegal activity or objectionable material was found during the search. Verma further alleged that the incident caused a public disturbance, drew crowds from the nearby market area and damaged the reputation of the hotel. CCTV footage of the incident has also been submitted to police as evidence.

Police said the FIR has been registered under sections related to criminal trespass and acts endangering life or personal safety. Further investigation is underway.

In another incident last week, viral videos circulated online purportedly showed a man being beaten, smeared with ink and cow dung, and paraded through the streets by individuals claiming to be associated with a right-wing outfit. The group accused him of being with a woman from another community at a hotel in Govindpura.

Police later intervened and took both the man and woman to the police station. According to police sources, the woman told officers that she had known the man for a long time and did not wish to file any complaint against him. Both were later allowed to leave.