‘Beheading’ remark: Court stays non-bailable warrants against Ramdev

In a rally at Rohtak last year, Yoga guru had stated he could ‘behead lakhs of people refusing to chant Bharat Mata Ki Jai if he were not bound by law.

The court of additional district and sessions judge (ADSJ) Narinder Kaur in Rohtak has stayed the proceedings against yoga guru Ramdev in the ‘beheading remark’ case going on in the lower court of additional civil judicial magistrate (ACJM) Harish Goyal.

The court of ACJM had issued non-bailable warrants against Ramdev for August 3 after he failed to comply with the court’s summons under Sections 504 and 506 of Indian Penal Code. (HT File)

The court of ACJM had issued non-bailable warrants against Ramdev for August 3 after he failed to comply with the court’s summons under Sections 504 and 506 of Indian Penal Code.

During a hearing on the revision petition filed by Ramdev on Thursday, senior advocate Satya Pal Jain argued that the lower court had hurriedly issued summons and warrants against Ramdev, wrongly perceiving that his statement was particularly meant for the Muslim community. Based on the arguments, the court of ADSJ stayed the proceedings against Ramdev in the lower court and announced September 12 as the next date for hearing.

Ramdev, who has been made the brand ambassador of Haryana by the BJP government, had courted controversy in April 2016, by saying he could “behead lakhs of people refusing to chant Bharat Mata Ki Jai if he were not bound by law.” He was addressing a ‘Sadbhawna Sammelan’ in Rohtak that was organised to promote peace in Haryana, which had witnessed unprecedented violence during the Jat stir in February 2016.