Chhattisgarh CM's Father Sent To 15-Day Judicial Custody For Alleged Hate Speech Against Brahmin Community

This took place as the Chief Minister’s father was produced before a local court in Raipur.

Raipur: Nand Kumar Baghel, the father of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, was on Tuesday arrested and sent to judicial custody for 15 days for allegedly making derogatory remarks against the Brahmin community.

This took place as the Chief Minister’s father was produced before a local court in Raipur.

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“He has been sent to judicial custody. He will be presented before the court again on September 21. As per his instructions, I didn't file application for his bail today,” said Nand Kumar Baghel’s lawyer Gajendra Sonkar, ANI reported.

Earlier on Saturday, the Raipur Police registered an FIR against Nand Kumar Baghel following a complaint filed by the ‘Sarv Brahmin Samaj’.

An official said the case was registered under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language) and 505(1)(b) (with intent to cause, or likely to cause, fear or alarm to public, or to any section of public whereby any person may be induced to commit offence against the state or against public tranquility), PTI reported.

The official further said the ‘Sarv Brahmin Samaj’ in its complaint alleged that the Chief Minister’s father recently appealed to the people to boycott Brahmins by terming them as foreigners and also asked the people to not let them enter their villages.

He added the outfit also accused Nand Kumar Baghel of asking the people to “evict” Brahmins out of the country.

The Chief Minister’s father, according to police, made the remarks reportedly while addressing an event in Uttar Pradesh recently.

The Chief Minister had earlier in a statement said he is pained by his father’s comments.

“The remarks made by my father Nand Kumar Baghel against a specific class have come to my attention. The comments have hurt the sentiments of the class as well as social harmony and I am also pained by it,” he was quoted as saying in a release issued by the state public relations department.

Asserting “every person is equal before my government”, he said that he has learnt through social media and other platforms it is being said that action against Nand Kumar Baghel will not be taken because he is the Chief Minister’s father.

“Everyone knows about my ideological differences with my father. Our political thoughts and beliefs are very much different. I respect him as his son, but as the CM I cannot forgive him for such mistakes which disturb the public order,” he said, adding that an appropriate legal action will be ensured by police in this regard.

The Chief Minister further said his government respects every religion, caste and community and their sentiments, and gives equal importance to everyone.