HC declines to quash case against ‘Mohammad’ Deepak, restrains him from posting on social media

The Uttarakhand High Court on Friday restrained gym owner Deepak Kumar, who opposed the harassment of an elderly Muslim shopkeeper by alleged Bajrang Dal members, from commenting on social media about the cases filed in connection with the incident, Bar and Bench reported.

Declining to quash the first information reports filed against Kumar, Justice Rakesh Thapliyal said that the gym owner making statements or posting videos on social media might affect the ongoing investigation, Live Law reported. The judge also criticised him for regularly posting on social media platforms about the incident and giving “sermons”.

Kumar, in his petition, had also sought police protection and requested a departmental inquiry against police officers who allegedly failed to act against hate crimes. However, the court had on Thursday accused him of “sensationalising” the matter, and questioned how he could seek protection while being accused in a police case.

The incident took place on January 26 when alleged Bajrang Dal members had arrived at the shop of an elderly Muslim man named Vakeel Ahmed in the Pauri Garhwal district, objecting to him using the word “Baba” in the name of his establishment.

Kumar and another person, Vijay Rawat, objected to the mob’s actions, after which the two Hindu men were asked not to intervene.

The FIR against Kumar and Rawat was filed in late January.

The case...

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