After getting bail from the SDM court in the Kotdwar dispute, Mohammad Deepak has reacted to the police action and the allegations leveled against him.
While talking to BBC News Hindi, he described the entire matter as politically motivated and accused himself of being implicated.
Deepak Kumar alias 'Mohammed Deepak' was arrested by the district police on the complaint of businessman Sanjeev Tonk in Kotdwar of Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand.
The businessman alleges that Deepak, angry over one of his comments on social media, came to his shop, abused him and threatened to kill him.
According to Kotdwar ASP Manoj Thakur, "A complaint was received of pushing and abusing the businessman, on which immediate cognizance was taken and the case was registered. For security reasons, the accused Deepak Kumar was arrested under Section 151."
'Being targeted since old dispute'
According to Mohammad Deepak, this entire controversy has not happened suddenly. He claimed that some people had been making comments at him since the incident on January 26 this year.
In January, Deepak Kumar came into limelight after Bajrang Dal members protested in support of a Muslim shopkeeper. At that time he had given his name as 'Mohammed Deepak'. Now after his arrest on the complaint of the businessman, this matter is again in discussion.
He told, "The complainant is a resident of Najibabad (UP) and works in the same area in Kotdwar where my gym was earlier. After the January 26 incident, he had stopped talking to me and whenever I passed by, he used to make objectionable comments on me."
The police had registered a case on the complaint of the complaining businessman and arrested Deepak, who has been granted bail on the condition of a surety bond of Rs 50,000 and two sureties.
Deepak claimed, "Despite ignoring and explaining several times, when his (complaining businessman) did not change his attitude, I only went and protested and spoke. I did not use any violence or assault."
He alleged, "80 to 100 people had gathered in the police station and an atmosphere was being created. Due to external pressure and crowd's demonstration, the police took this step against me. In the case of minor section like breach of peace, I was kept sitting from 3 pm yesterday till 7 pm today."
In this case, the police have registered a case under different sections of the Indian Civil Security Code i.e. BNS and later arrested Deepak under section 170 of the Indian Civil Security Code i.e. BNSS.
What did the police tell?
According to Pauri police, businessman Sanjeev Tonk had given a complaint at Kotdwar police station on Thursday, October 1. According to the police, in the complaint, Deepak Kumar alias Akki alias Mohammad Deepak was accused of indecency, abusing and threatening to kill.
Based on the complaint, the police registered a case under sections 351(2) and 352 of the Indian Judicial Code. According to the police press note, sections 196 and 115 were also added during the investigation.
Police say that during the investigation, CCTV footage of the incident site along with available photographs and video evidence were also examined.
According to the police, from the CCTV footage and available photographs of the incident site, prima facie it appeared that Mohammad Deepak abused and threatened the complainant.
The police said in its statement that action will continue as per law against those who try to spread enmity in the society, threaten or disturb peace.
What does the complaining businessman have to say?
Businessman Sanjeev Tonk says that the controversy started from a comment made on social media.
According to the businessman, Deepak reached his shop and abused him and threatened to kill him, saying that he would not be allowed to live in Kotdwar.
He says that during the incident, local people intervened, due to which the matter did not progress further.
According to Tonk, after the incident he complained to the police. After this, the local trade board also intervened in the matter and the police registered a case and took action.
Thus, according to the complainant, the dispute that started with a comment on social media later reached his shop.
What did Deepak's lawyer tell?
Deepak's lawyer Advocate Arvind Kumar Verma has rejected the businessman's allegations.
While talking to BBC News Hindi, Verma said that Deepak had an old residence in 'Bhaiji Ki Sale Gali' of Kotdwar and his mother also had a tea shop there.
According to the lawyer, Deepak has an old acquaintance with another businessman who runs a shop nearby.
Verma says that on October 1, there was a general conversation between the two regarding some matter and during this an altercation broke out.
He said that Deepak had only said that this is his personal matter and no one should unnecessarily interfere or interfere in it.
The lawyer claims that there was neither any fighting nor abuse or death threats.
