Radical Hindutva leader Sambhaji Bhide was booked by the Navi Mumbai police for his alleged derogatory comments against Buddhism founder Gautam Buddha and social reformers Jyotiba Phule and Erode Venkatappa Ramasamy, revered as Periyar.
Based on a complaint lodged by advocate Amit Katarnavre, a resident of Panvel in Navi Mumbai, the New Panvel police station registered a case against Mr. Bhide on Sunday under Sections 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on the grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc), 153-B (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration) and 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of the Indian Penal Code. The FIR also included relevant provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Also read | Comments by Hindutva leader Sambhaji Bhide are intended to tarnish Bapu’s image, says Tushar Gandhi
