Mumbai Police have launched an investigation, registering an FIR against an unidentified individual. This action comes after a formal complaint was lodged by the Maharashtra BJP concerning a controversial social media post originating from the State Congress. The post in question provocatively depicted a BJP office engulfed in flames during protests.
Prakash Gade, Coordinator of the Maharashtra BJP’s Social Media Cell, filed the complaint at the Marine Drive Police Station in Mumbai. The unidentified person is now facing charges under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) related to provocation intended to cause riots and public mischief (Sections 192, 353(1), and 353(2)).
Dating back to September 28, the post on X (formerly Twitter) showcased images of a BJP office ablaze during protests that had occurred in Ladakh, Uttarakhand, and Bihar. It specifically referenced recent events in Leh, where demands for statehood and inclusion in the Sixth Schedule led to a protest on September 24. This incident resulted in four reported casualties and an attack on the local BJP office.
In response to the contentious post, BJP Spokesperson Advocate Aniket Nikam took to X, stating, “Showing in action. This is a warning for those attempting to disturb the peace of Maharashtra.”
The original post from the Maharashtra Congress carried a caption that urged the BJP not to push people to their limits. It ominously suggested that if the situation escalated, similar scenes to the Leh incident, where “Gen Z” reportedly set a BJP office on fire, could unfold across the entire country.
Following the Leh incident, social activist Sonam Wangchuk was arrested on allegations of orchestrating the violence. The Congress party publicly opposed this arrest, criticizing the Central government for its handling of Mr. Wangchuk’s detention and the unrest in Leh.
The FIR, officially filed on Monday night, explicitly states its grounds: “The above post has been made with the intention of creating fear among the public in a manner that will encourage them to commit crimes against the public and public peace. The post’s intention is to deliberately create riots and fear among the people in such a way that a group of people would be motivated to commit crimes against public peace.”