Amid Gyanvapi Mosque Row, DU Professor Booked Over 'Objectionable' Post On 'Shivling'

In his grievance, advocate Vineet Jindal said Lal had as of late shared "derogatory, inciting and provocating tweet on the Shivling".

Vishwanath Temple (fore) & Gyanvapi Mosque (Source: File photo/Getty)

New Delhi: Delhi Police on Wednesday registered an FIR against an Associate Professor of history at Delhi University's Hindu College for making an objectionable statement regarding the Shivling found in the disputed structure of the Gyanvapi mosque complex, officials said on Wednesday. Supreme Court lawyer Vineet Jindal has filed a complaint with Delhi Police against Professor Dr. Ratan Lal for hurting religious sentiments. Police said a complaint was received against Ratan Lal, a professor of history at Hindu College, for insulting religious sentiments by insulting religious beliefs. 

Legal action has been initiated against the professor in this regard. A case under section 153A/295A of IPC has been registered in the Cyber ​​PS North district and an investigation has been started.

The Supreme Court Tuesday directed the District Magistrate of Varanasi to guarantee the assurance of region inside the Gyanvapi-Shringar Gauri complex where 'Shivling' is supposed to be found in the overview and permitted Muslims to offer 'Namaz'.

In his grievance, advocate Vineet Jindal said Lal had as of late shared "derogatory, inciting and provocating tweet on the Shivling".

The assertion made by Lal on his Twitter account is "instigating and provoking", Jindal said in his complaint.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Sagar Singh Kalsi said, "A complaint was received on Tuesday night against Lal regarding deliberate and malicious post on Facebook intended to outrage feelings by insulting a religion and religious beliefs."

"A case under section 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and 295A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of the Indian Penal Code has been registered," the DCP added.

In the interim, Lal said, "In India, if you speak about anything, someone or the other's sentiment will be hurt. So this is nothing new. I am a historian and have made several observations. As I wrote them down, I have used very guarded language in my post and still this. I will defend myself."

Lal said he has additionally composed a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioning him to give two bodyguards carrying AK-56 rifles as he is confronting death threats and being attacked on social media.

"If this is not possible, then instruct the appropriate authority to issue a license of AK-56 rifle to him," Lal said in his letter.

The hearing in the videography survey case of the Gyanvapi Masjid complex in Varanasi could not take place in the local court on Wednesday due to the strike of lawyers. Lawyers had called for a strike today to protest against the language used for lawyers in a letter from the state government.

(With PTI inputs)