Hyderabad advocate files plaint against Farhan Akhtar for posting seditious content

Hyderabad: Hyderabad-based advocate Karuna Sagar Kashimshetty, associated with the Hindu Sangathan, has filed a complaint against Bollywood actor Farhan Akthar for posting seditious post on Twitter. Karuna Sagar filed the charge at the Saidabad police station under Hyderabad police commissionerate.

In the complaint, Karuna Sagar stated that Farhan Akhtar had shared a Twitter post, which may “lead to chaos and anarchy”. In his post, the actor had said, “Here’s what you need to know about why these protests are important. See you on the 19th at August Kranti Maidan, Mumbai. The time to protest on social media alone is over (sic).”

Here’s what you need to know about why these protests are important. See you on the 19th at August Kranti Maidan, Mumbai. The time to protest on social media alone is over. pic.twitter.com/lwkyMCHk2v

— Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) December 18, 2019

The actor also uploaded a picture that gives a brief description of the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 and National Register of Citizens. The description notes that the CAA when combined with NRC could “lead to Indian Muslims being declared stateless”. The picture also says that the Act will “inhumanly exclude many people for being Muslims, transgender, atheists, Adivasis, Dalits, women, landless, and without documents”.

Karuna Sagar believes that the post has been made, intending to cause fear and alarm to the public. He adds that it could induce people to commit an offence against the State or the public tranquillity. “It is to instigate Muslims, transgender, atheists, and Dalits to wage war against the nation, leading to chaos and anarchy. The post also promotes enmity between different communities,” the advocate said. He added that the picture contained a distorted map of India, showing POK and Aksai chin separately, which is an “act of sedition”.

“Citizenship Amendment Act of 2019 is specific and clear. The amendment offers Indian citizenship to religious minorities such as Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Jain and Parsi from the neighbouring Islamic countries of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. The migration had to have happened by December 31, 2014, and due to religious persecution or fear of religious persecution in their country of origin,” explains Karuna Sagar. He adds that there is no provision in the amendment to exclude any citizen of India of any caste, creed, region, religion, sex, and colour from their citizenship.

Karuna Sagar alleged that Farhan Akthar, being a responsible Bollywood actor, should have spread a good message to society as an icon. “Instead, he has deliberately posted the picture on Twitter, twisting facts to create fear and alarm among the public. It is to instigate them to wage war against the nation and create chaos. Following which several protestors all over India had indulged in violence, causing severe damage to public and private properties. It also injured several people, including the police, creating severe law and order problem across the nation,” the advocated said.

Karuna Sagar demanded that police should initiate legal proceedings against Farhan Akthar under sections 121, 121 (A), 120 (B) 505 of IPC for posting seditious Twitter content. Police said that they forwarded the complaint for a legal opinion, and they will proceed accordingly.