Muslim family granted bail after arrest over anti-India slogan on VHP complaint
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The family of the 15-year-old Muslim boy, who was arrested after a Vishwa Hindu Parishad activist complained that he heard the boy raising an anti-India slogan during the India-Pakistan cricket match on February 23, has got bail from a local court in Malvan, Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district.
The bail was granted with conditions, including restrictions on leaving the state without permission, cooperation with the investigation, and weekly appearances before the police until the chargesheet is filed, The Indian Express reported.
However, the couple remained in custody until late Wednesday due to pending bail formalities, while the boy, who had been taken to an Observation Home, was released into the custody of his uncle on Monday.
The complaint against the family was filed by a Malvan resident affiliated with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), who alleged that the boy had shouted slogans deemed “anti-India” before fleeing the scene. The complainant claimed that upon confronting the boy at his residence later that night, the parents responded aggressively, verbally abusing him and allegedly raising similar slogans.
The VHP activist gathered his compatriots to confront the Muslim family outside their house, whereupon he claimed that the family tried to assault them despite having them outnumbered, the family of two, including the boy’s mother. However, the police did not hesitate to take action against the family despite the VHP men gathering outside the family’s house and confronting them, registering a case of attack in favour of the VHP men, who in fact intruded on the privacy of the family.
The family, originally from Uttar Pradesh, had been residing in the area for over a decade, operating a scrap business that was later demolished by civic authorities on the grounds that it lacked the necessary permits. In court, police argued that custodial interrogation of the couple was necessary to verify their submitted documents and investigate the possible involvement of others in the alleged offence.
However, legal aid for the couple was delayed, as no lawyer was available on their initial court appearance, leading to their remand in judicial custody. The Malvan Bar Association clarified that no resolution had been passed denying them legal representation, but logistical issues resulted in a delay in securing legal counsel, The Indian Express reported.
The couple has been charged under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which pertain to promoting enmity between groups, making assertions prejudicial to national integration, and committing acts with common intent.