City
Epaper

Sedition charges against 51 in Mumbai for pro-Sharjeel slogans

By IANS | Updated: February 3, 2020 23:00 IST

In a drastic move, the Mumbai Police on Monday slapped sedition charges against at least 51 persons who joined a rally here on Saturday and allegedly raised slogans in favour of sedition accused JNU student Sharjeel Imam, an official said.

Open in App

Police spokesperson, DCP Pranaya Ashok told that the action has been initiated by Azad Maidan Police Station.

The 51 were among hundreds who took party in a rally, the Queer Azadi Mumbai (QAM), organised by various LGBTQIA groups led by Humsafar Trust on Saturday at Azad Maidan.

QAM spokesperson Harish Iyer told that the persons questioned and booked by the police were unauthorised people who had entered the venue and maintained that the QAM had nothing to do with them.

Earlier on Monday, as some videos of the group raising slogans in support of Sharjeel Imam in the rally went viral, opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) attacked the Maha Vikas Aghadi govt while one senior leader lodged a complaint with the police demanding action against those who had supported Imam.

Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis demanded to what "what was going on and why the Maharashtra govt was keeping silent in the matter".

BJP'S state Vice President Kirit Somaiya threatened to stage a dharna outside the Azad Maidan Police Station if the police failed to book such persons within 72 hours.

Among those booked are reported to be several girls who took part in the QAM rally, but the QAM has dissociated itself from their actions.

Police have slapped charges under Section 124-A (sedition) of the Indian Penal Code, and other sections, against the group, including activist Urvashi Chudawala.

The group was seen carrying posters with Imam's picture and raising slogans promising to complete his unfulfilled task.

Earlier on Monday, following the uproar, Home Minister Anil Deshmukh had said that the police were examining the issue before initiating suitable action in the matter.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: QAMbjpHarish Iyer
Open in App

Related Stories

MumbaiBJP Candidate Ravi Raja Files Nomination From Ward 185 for BMC Election 2026

MumbaiBMC Election 2026: BJP Finalises 66 Candidates for Mumbai Civic Polls, Who Received AB Forms? See Full List

MumbaiBMC Elections 2026: NCP (SP) Mumbai President Rakhee Jadhav Joins BJP Ahead of Civic Polls (VIDEO)

MumbaiBMC Elections 2026: Mumbai Alliance Talks Hit Roadblock as 20 Seats Remain Unresolved

PunePune: Jolt to Shiv Sena (UBT) as Key Leaders Join BJP Ahead of PMC Elections

National Realted Stories

NationalPiyush Goyal to hold key alliance talks in TN on Jan 4-5 ahead of 2026 Assembly polls

National60 injured as two trains collide in tunnel at hydel project in Uttarakhand's Chamoli

NationalTN BJP urges NHRC to take suo motu cognisance of brutal attack on Odisha youth

NationalDense fog disrupts life in Delhi-NCR; flight operations impacted, CAT III protocols activated

NationalDelhi chokes as AQI slips into 'severe' zone