Bahraich (UP), March 31 A cleric accused of making objectionable remarks against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and his mother has been arrested from Bihar and sent to jail by a court here, police said on Tuesday.
Maulana Abdullah Salim Qasmi alias Chaturvedi, a resident of the Araria district in Bihar, was apprehended by the UP Special Task Force (STF) Gorakhpur unit from Purnea on Monday evening and brought to Bahraich in connection with a controversial speech, reportedly from a May 2024 event, that had surfaced on social media earlier this month, sparking protests.
An FIR was lodged against him under sections 196 (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth...), 299 (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings...), and 353 (statements conducing to public mischief), the police said.
"In recent days, a video went viral on social media in which a person named Mohammad Salim, a resident of the Araria district in Bihar, was seen making objectionable remarks against the Honourable Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh on a public platform. In this connection, cases were registered in Balrampur and Bahraich districts," Inspector General of Police, Devipatan Range, Amit Pathak said.
"Today, the STF unit of Gorakhpur brought the accused from Bihar to the Kotwali Nagar police station in Bahraich for questioning. During interrogation, the individual admitted to his statement and sought an apology. Further legal action in the matter is being carried out by the Kotwali Nagar police station in Bahraich," Pathak said in a video statement.
Circle Officer (City) Narayan Dutt Mishra told