Sharjeel Usmani booked in Maharastra over alleged objectionable tweet

Mumbai: Former Aligarh Muslim University student leader Sharjeel Usmani has been booked by the Ambad Police in Maharashtra on the basis of a complaint by a right-wing activist who alleged Sharjeel's tweets hurt religious sentiments.

Ambadas Ambhore, an activist of the Hindu Jagran Manch, filed a petition to get an FIR registered against Sharjeel for using disrespectful words for Lord Ram in some of his recent posts on Twitter.

Subsequently, Ambad police registered a case against Usmani on Wednesday night under Indian Penal Code Section 295-A (malicious act outraging religious feelings) and provisions of the Information Technology Act, the official said.

The case will be transferred to the Jalna cyber department, he added.

Earlier this year, the Pune police had registered a case against Usmani under IPC Section section 153 (A) (promoting enmity between different groups on the ground of religion, etc) over his speech made during the Elgar Parishad conclave held there on January 30. Usmani had recorded his statement with the Pune police in this connection in March.