Blogger arrested for hurting religious sentiments with Shiv idol in food reel

A 25-year-old blogger, who runs food vlogging channels on YouTube and other social media platforms, was arrested in Muzaffarnagar on Saturday after members of some right-wing groups lodged a police complaint over a reel purportedly promoting a non-vegetarian roadside eatery that allegedly featured a Shiv idol. According to police, the blogger, Anas Ahmed, was arrested after certain people objected to the inclusion of the Shiv idol visuals in the clip, claiming that "it hurt religious sentiments". Khalapar SHO, Bablu Kumar, said, "An FIR was registered under BNSS section 170 (empowers police to arrest individuals without warrant to prevent commission of a cognizable offense)." The reel showed a youngster shooting a food clip and using footage of the city's prominent Shiv Chowk with the idol while capturing visuals of various key locations for promotion. Taking cognisance, police in Muzaffarnagar's Khalapar area launched an inquiry and identified the accused, who is a resident of Laddawala. Police found that the purported video was filmed while reviewing food dishes at the city-based eatery. Ahmed later posted two videos "apologising to the city's residents" for the "controversial reel".