After the Mumbai police refused to register an FIR against Prashant Bhushan, social activist S Balakrishnan on Friday filed a criminal complaint against the Senior Supreme Court lawyer in the court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Kurla, for allegedly hurting the sentiments of “millions of Hindus” by calling lord Krishna a “legendary eve-teaser”.
Balakrishnan, a former journalist and founder of Deshbakti Andolan, filed the complaint against Bhushan before the court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate D P Shingade under Sections 295 (Injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class) and 295A (Deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of the Indian Penal Code.
Taking an offence to Bhushan’s controversial tweet describing lord Krishna as a “legendary eve-teaser”, Balakrishnan had on April 2 lodged an online complaint with the Mumbai police against the country’s leading lawyer. later on, he filed a formal complaint with the Chembur police station.
However, after the Chembur police declined to register an FIR against Bhushan, Balkrishnan moved the Kurla court.
“In a tweet issued on April 2, 2017, Bhushan had intentionally and maliciously hurt the religious feelings of millions of Hindus by making totally derogatory references to lord Krishna, who is highly revered by the entire Hindu community”
“Following a nationwide uproar, Bhushan deleted his objectionable tweet. “However, that doesn’t mitigate or remove the criminality of his conduct and he deserves to be arrested and punished under law. I have urged the direct the Chembur police to register an FIR against Bhushan and take appropriate action,” Balakrishnan said.
“I first submitted a written complaint to the Chembur police. Since the police did not file an FIR I had no option but move the court. It is most unfortunate that despite the BJP being in power, the police is not willing to even register an FIR when lord Krishna is grossly insulted and the sentiments of Hindus are deeply hurt,” the erstwhile journalist added.