Overview
- Uttar Pradesh’s Special Task Force detained a Bihar-based cleric from Purnia and brought him to Bahraich, where a court remanded him to judicial custody.
- Police in Bahraich registered a case on March 8 under new penal code sections for promoting enmity, hurting religious feelings, and public mischief after a complaint by a Vishwa Hindu Parishad lawyer.
- Officers said the cleric admitted the offence during questioning and sought forgiveness, and a video circulating online shows him apologising for remarks made on May 5, 2024, in Bhagalpur.
- The cleric has also claimed the viral clip was selectively edited and misrepresented his speech, and his supporters have asked for an impartial probe.
- The video’s return online led to protests in parts of Uttar Pradesh and more cases in districts like Balrampur, signaling legal action that now spans multiple police jurisdictions.