The Allahabad High Court recently granted bail to a man accused of abusing Lord Shri Ram on Facebook. The allegation against Riyaz alias Ovaisi is that he abused the Hindu deity through his Facebook messenger.
The bench of Justice Sameer Jain observed that Ovaisi had no prior criminal record apart from the present case and the maximum punishment for the offences attributed to him was three years.
Therefore, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case and taking into account Ovaisi’s unconditional apology before the police, the court allowed his bail plea.
A case was registered against Ovaisi under Sections 153-A, 295-A, 505(2) of the IPC and Section 67 of the IT Act at Sureri Police Station in Jaunpur district of Uttar Pradesh. He was arrested on January 28, 2024.
Ovaisi’s counsel prayed the high court to allow for relief asserting his innocence. He assured the court that Ovaisi was a law-abiding citizen and though he was a Muslim, he had faith in the Hindu religion.
He alleged that it was actually a friend of Ovaisi who used his Facebook account. Moreover, the counsel informed that Ovaisi had tendered an unconditional apology before the police station.
The counsel contended that the secular fabric of this country is not so weak, which can be disturbed by such types of fake messages.
The high court noted that though it appeared that an abusive message had been sent through Ovaisi’s Facebook account, there had been no other criminal case against him in the past.
Therefore, the HC allowed him to be released on bail on furnishing a personal bond and two sureties each in the like amount to the satisfaction of the court concerned.
Along with other conditions, the court directed Ovaisi to not indulge in any criminal and antisocial activity while being on bail.
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