Lucknow: The Bhadohi Police in Uttar Pradesh is pursuing Muslim Ansari, who is accused of making a derogatory comment against Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in a WhatsApp group.
Meanwhile, the group's administrator, a 35-year-old businessman named Sahabuddin Ansari, is currently in police custody.
The case against Sahabuddin Ansari stems from Ansari's purported failure to take action against the group member responsible for the comment.
Operating under the name 'Nagar Palika Parishad Bhadohi', the group serves as a platform for addressing local concerns, boasting 418 members that encompass municipal employees and residents.
Ansari, the group's administrator, reportedly remained silent when the offensive message was shared, neglecting to delete it or remove the member responsible. Notably, multiple group members raised objections to the comment.
The police, prompted by an informant's complaint shared via social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on August 4, launched an investigation with the assistance of the cyber cell.
An FIR has been lodged against both Sahabuddin Ansari and the individual responsible for the comment, Muslim Ansari. Charges include defamation, intentional insult, promoting enmity between classes, and criminal intimidation. Authorities have invoked the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act and the Information Technology Act in response to the incident.
Efforts to locate Muslim Ansari, who is said to be conducting business in Nepal, are currently underway. Despite a raid on his Bhadohi residence, Ansari's absence for the past three months has impeded his arrest.