Controversial preacher Yati Narsinghanand Giri released a video on Friday urging the Yogi Adityanath government to release him from "illegal detention" so that he can respond to a public interest litigation filed against him.
Two days ago, a PIL was filed against him by Muslim Scholar Mohammad Yusuf, the secretary of Hazrat Khwaja Garib Nawaz Welfare Association, Maharashtra, reported PTI.
The video was shared with the media by Udita Tyagi, the general secretary of Yati Narasinghanand Saraswati Foundation.
In the video, the controversial seer claimed that he may be killed by "trained killers." He further said he wanted to clarify his statement on the Prophet before he died and for that, he needed to collect evidence from authentic Islamic textbooks and literature.
He was booked for hate speech earlier this month over his derogatory remark against Prophet Muhammad at a programme in Ghaziabad on September 29, triggering widespread outrage.
Narsinghanand was booked under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code on the complaint of Trivendra Singh, a police officer at Sihani Gate police station, for hurting religious sentiments.
The remark had sparked protests in several pockets of the country including Amravati and New Delhi against the seer.
Amid the controversy, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had said that derogatory comments against deities, great figures or saints are unacceptable.
However, he had also warned that anarchy in the name of protest will not be tolerated either adding that those engaging in such behaviour will face severe consequences.
"Every citizen should have a sense of gratitude towards great men, but this cannot be forced and cannot be imposed on anyone," Adityanath said in a statement.