Nupur Sharma, Naveen Jindal, several others booked in Delhi for allegedly spreading hate on social media

Delhi Police have booked several persons including former BJP members Nupur Sharma, Naveen Jindal, and many others on charges of spreading hate, inciting groups, and creating an atmosphere detrimental to the maintenance of public tranquility.

The police action comes two weeks after the pronouncements by Nupur Sharma and Naveen Jindal, and also in the wake of protests from a host of countries lodged with the Indian missions abroad. Significantly, many who made responses to the incendiary remarks about Prophet Mohammed, have also been booked in parallel, in the name of social media posts.

The police said they will be probed for their role in posting hateful content on social media that compromises the social fabric of the country.

The case has been registered by Delhi Police's Intelligence Fusion & Strategic Operations unit of Special Cell. Deputy commissioner of police KPS Malhotra confirmed the development.

"The FIR against multiple individuals cut across religions and investigate the roles of social media entities in promoting false and wrong information with an intention to create unrest in the cyberspace and have ramifications in the physical space thereby compromising on the social fabric of the country," a senior officer said.

The case has been registered against Nupur Sharma, Naveen Kumar Jindal, Shadab Chauhan, Saba Naqvi, Maulana Mufti Nadeem, Abdur Rehman, Gulzar Ansari, Anil Kumar Meena, Pooja Shakun, police said.

The action comes days after Nupur Sharma's remark against Prophet Muhammad triggered an international row with over a dozen Arab countries objecting to her utterances. Taking strong action in the matter, BJP suspended her from primary membership. The party also dismissed Jindal, who had written a controversial tweet against the Prophet.

Before announcing the move, the BJP had said it respects all religions and doesn't promote any ideology that insults or demeans other religions.