Prophet remark row: Bhim Sena chief arrested for threatening, announcing bounty on Nupur Sharma

Former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma. Credit: IANS Photo

The Delhi Police has arrested Bhim Sena chief Nawab Satpal Tanwar for threatening and announcing a bounty of Rs 1 on now-removed BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma over her remarks on Prophet Mohammad, officials said on Friday.

Tanwar was arrested on Thursday from Gurugram in Haryana, they said.

The statements of former BJP office-bearers Sharma and Naveen Kumar Jindal on Prophet Muhammad have sparked a massive controversy which has led to violent protests in several parts of the country.

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The police said Tanwar had posted a video in which he announced a bounty of Rs one crore on Sharma for her remarks and was trying to fuel communal disharmony.

Recently, various handles on Twitter and other social media platforms were posting materials which was spreading hate and was against the maintenance of public tranquillity, the police said in an official statement, adding that they received also various complaints in this regard.

On the basis of complaints and suo-motto social media analysis, the Delhi Police registered 19 FIRs under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, it said.

In one such case, Tanwar, who claimed to be the chief of Bhim Sena, having multiple Twitter handles and Facebook profile, posted a video in which he announced a bounty of Rs one crore on Sharma and was trying to fuel communal disharmony, the statement stated.

An FIR was registered in this connection and the investigation was taken up. Since the registration of the FIR, Tanwar was trying to hide in different parts of north India ranging from Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, police said, adding that he was arrested from Gurugram.

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Tanwar claimed that he had some medical issues for which he was medically examined following which he was sent to judicial custody, the statement stated.

The Delhi Police issues advisory to various individuals who are trying to misuse social media to propagate hate and also trying to compromise public tranquillity and communal harmony, it said.

The Delhi Police under the ambit of law is taking strict action against such entities, it added.