Pratap Simha booked over provocative remarks during Ganesha procession in T. Narasipur

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Former MP Pratap Simha has been booked by the T. Narasipur Town police for allegedly making a provocative speech during a Ganesha procession in T. Narasipur town on September 18.

A case has been registered against Mr. Simha under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for allegedly disturbing public peace, promoting enmity between different groups and insulting religious sentiments.

According to the police complaint, when the Ganesha idol procession was passing in front of a mosque on Link Road in T. Narasipur at around 9 p.m. on September 18, Mr. Simha addressed the gathering while standing on a vehicle equipped with a sound system and a DJ. He is also alleged to have made remarks directed at T. Narasipur Town police inspector Dhananjaya in a challenging manner.

The former MP and his associates are alleged to have raised derogatory and provocative slogans. “By creating an atmosphere conducive to hatred and hostility between different religions and castes, they disturbed law and order,” the complaint stated.

Mr. Simha and his associates have been booked under Sections 132, 191, 194, 196(1)(a)(b), 299 and 353(1)(b)(c), read with Section 190 of the BNS.

The Ganesha procession on September 18 followed a protest staged by the BJP earlier this month against Mr. Dhananjaya’s reported warning to youths taking out Ganesha processions against bursting crackers while passing in front of the mosque.

Meanwhile, reacting to the registration of FIR against him, Mr. Pratap Simha accused the T. Narsipur Town police station inspector Dhananjaya for “provoking” Hindu sentiments in the first place. Hence, the police inspector should have been booked for provocation instead of him, he said.

The police inspector should have been transferred and action should have been taken against him, he said while claiming that the police had booked him instead after coming under pressure from Home Minister Priyank Kharge.

The former MP said he already has 21 FIRs registered against him and he will go the court to face the present FIR also.

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