SP Leader Held Over Objectionable Remark Against CM Yogi, Party Calls Arrest 'Undemocratic'

Lucknow Police confirmed that the arrest of Samajwadi Party's Manish Jagan Aggarwal was in order to prevent social media-fueled unrest and violence.

Lucknow Police arrested Samajwadi Party's Manish Jagan Aggarwal to prevent social media-fueled unrest and violence.

Source : X/@glaring_glow

The Samajwadi Party’s trade wing president Manish Jagan Aggarwal was arrested by Lucknow Police on Friday night over derogatory remarks against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Aditayanath. After the arrest, the Samajwadi Party alleged that the police forcibly took him into custody.

In response, the Lucknow Police clarified on Saturday that the arrest was made in order to prevent the potential “unrest and violence” through social media posts.

The Lucknow Police said in a post on X, “To prevent the strong possibility of continuously creating negativity, unrest, and violence in the society through objectionable posts on social media, Manish Jagan Aggarwal was arrested and further legal action was taken against him."

सोशल मीडिया पर आपत्तिजनक पोस्ट के माध्यम से समाज में लगातार नकारात्मकता, अशांति और हिंसा उत्पन्न करने की प्रबल संभावना के निवारणार्थ मनीष जगन अग्रवाल को गिरफ्तार कर उनके विरुद्ध अग्रिम विधिक कार्यवाही की गई।

— LUCKNOW POLICE (@lkopolice) February 15, 2025

The response came after the allegation made by the Samajwadi Party over his social media post claiming that Manish Jagan Aggarwal had been forcibly taken into custody by Lucknow Police. "National President of Samajwadi Vyapar Sabha, Mr. Manish Jagan Aggarwal has been forcibly taken away by Lucknow Police from his residence. Mr. Jagan is a patient with high blood pressure and his wife is also pregnant. If any harm happens to Manish Jagan ji or his family then Lucknow Police will be responsible for it," the party said in a post on X.

समाजवादी व्यापार सभा के राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष श्री मनीष जगन अग्रवाल जी को लखनऊ पुलिस जबरन उनके आवास से उठा ले गई है।

श्री जगन हाई ब्लड प्रेशर के मरीज़ हैं एवं उनकी पत्नी भी गर्भवती हैं।

यदि मनीष जगन जी या उनके परिवार को कोई हानि होती है तो उसकी जिम्मेदार लखनऊ पुलिस होगी।@LkoCp…

— Samajwadi Party (@samajwadiparty) February 14, 2025

Calling his arrest "undemocratic", Samajwadi Party spokesperson Fakhrul Hasan told news agency PTI, "Manish Jagan Agarwal was arrested from his residence last night. However, the police authorities did not reveal throughout the night under what charge he was arrested or what case is he being taken for. The Samajwadi Party views his arrest as undemocratic and claims that the BJP has no faith in the constitution."

VIDEO | Here's what Samajwadi Party spokesperson Fakhrul Hasan Chand said on the arrest of SP leader Manish Jagan Agarwal:

"Manish Jagan Agarwal was arrested from his residence last night. However, the police authorities did not reveal throughout the night under what charge he… pic.twitter.com/Df9gl6jcJd

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 15, 2025

Police security has also been increased outside the Samajwadi Party (SP) office and the residence of party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday morning amid concerns over potential protests by SP workers after the arrest of party leader Manish Jagan Agarwal.

#WATCH | Lucknow, UP: Police security heightened outside the Samajwadi Party office and the residence of party chief Akhilesh Yadav. pic.twitter.com/Or4Iy4p290

— ANI (@ANI) February 15, 2025