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AAP Gujarat chief Italia arrested for hurting religious sentiments, later granted bail
The case is related to a speech Aam Aadmi Party Gujarat chief Gopal Italia made in the temple town of Dwarka on September 2
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Gujarat chief Gopal Italia was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly hurting religious sentiments in a speech in the temple town of Dwarka on September 2. He was later released on bail, according to a police official.
A case was registered at Umarala police station in Bhavnagar district on September 4, 2022 under Section 295-A (outraging religious feelings) of the Indian Penal Code, said a police official.
As per the complainant, Amit Dangar, a 31-year-old land dealer from Ranghola village in Umrala taluka of Bhavnagar district, Italia had, at a rally in Dwarka, allegedly hurt his religious sentiments.
Taking to Twitter, Italia said, “Bhavnagar police arrested me today. My own grandmother passed away yesterday and the whole family is mourning her death but the BJP has got me arrested. This is probably the reason why the party got the majority votes.”
The BJP won the Gujarat state assembly elections for the seventh straight time in a historic win where it won 156 out of 182 seats in the recently concluded Assembly elections. The Congress won 17 seats and the AAP won five seats in the elections.
“At a public rally in Dwarka on September 2, Italia stated that Arvind Kejriwal had come like Arjuna to save Lord Krishna from BJP demons. By comparing Lord Krishna with demons, (he) has insulted Lord Krishna and has hurt sentiments of Hindus,” the FIR quotes Dangar as having stated in his complaint. HT has seen a copy of the FIR.
