FIR filed against Sharjeel Usmani in Pune over Elgar speech

Pune City Police on Tuesday filed an FIR against former Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) student Sharjeel Usmani for a speech he delivered at an Elgar Parishad event here.

Pune City Police on Tuesday filed an FIR against former Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) student Sharjeel Usm for a speech he delivered at an Elgar Parishad event here.

The complaint was filed by Pradip Gawade, Pune regional secretary of Bhartiya Janta Yuva Morcha, for allegedly hurting religious sentiments and using objectionable words against a particular community.

Usm had attended the Elgar Parishad event orgsed at Pune's Ganesh Kala Krida Manch on January 30. Soon after, a video of him allegedly using objectionable words against the Hindu community went viral and demand for stern action against him was raised.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders called for stern action against the AMU alumnus. They also threatened to protest if action is not taken by the state government.

Former chief minister and Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra assembly Devendra Fadnavis had also written a letter to chief minister Uddhav Thackeray asking him to book and arrest Usm.

The Elgar Parishad event on December 31, 2017 orgsed by the Kabir Kala Manch at Shwarwada became controversial after provocative speeches were allegedly made in the event promoting enmity between people. It allegedly triggered the violence in Bhima Koregaon the next day.

The police investigation further found Maoist links in the Elgar Parishad 2017, leading to the arrest of 16 activists alleged to have links with the banned Maoist party.

Hyderabad-based poet Varavara Rao, Advocate Sudha Bhardwaj, Gautam Navlakha and Anand Teltumbde are among the accused who have been arrested in the case which is now being investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

( With inputs from ANI )