On Tuesday, the Thane Police called suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma to appear in court on June 22 in connection with a FIR filed against her for allegedly making disparaging remarks against Prophet Mohammad.
Sharma was suspended by the BJP two days ago, and another BJP politician, Naveen Jindal, was dismissed for making disgraceful remarks about Prophet Muhammad. She was later arrested by Thane Police after a madrasa teacher submitted a complaint alleging that what Sharma said in a TV news debate damaged his religious sentiments.
The summons was given to Sharma by email and speed post, said the police, and included information on the FIR filed against her. On Monday, Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjay Pandey said Sharma would be summoned to give a statement in connection with the FIR filed against her.
Sharma was charged by the Mumbai Police on May 28 for allegedly making derogatory remarks about Prophet Muhammad during a television news debate. According to the police, she was charged with Sections 295A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or its beliefs), 153A (promoting enmity between groups), and 505(2) (statements conducive to public mischief).
“As part of the inquiry into the FIR registered against Sharma, we have given a notice under Section 41 (A) of the Criminal Procedure Code, which is a notice of appearance before a police officer, we’d like to record her statement as part of the investigation so we can hear her side of the story,” said a senior officer from Thane Police station.
In the Mumbra case, the complainant, Mohammad Gufran Khan, claimed that on Saturday, he received a link to a news debate on the Gyanvapi mosque problem on his WhatsApp number, in which Sharma took part.
He claimed that Sharma’s comments about the Prophet and his wife in the video harmed his religious sentiments. He then filed a complaint with the Mumbra police station, where a FIR against Sharma was registered.
Sharma was suspended by the BJP on Sunday following her alleged disrespectful remarks against Prophet Muhammad, which attracted outrage from a number of Islamic countries.The BJP said that Nupur had taken stands contrary to their own on multiple occasions, and that as a result, an investigation would be launched against her, and she would be suspended from the party.
The move drew significant criticism, particularly from BJP supporters and voters, as it was interpreted as the party withdrawing institutional support from her in the face of death and rape threats from Islamists.
Sharma has been told to be “cautious” and “avoid” commenting on any subject for the time being. When asked for response, Sharma said she just “respects and accepts” the party’s actions against her. “I’ve spent my entire life in this organisation, “I can’t question whatever decision is made because it is more than my family,” she stated.