Uttarakhand Man Challenges FIR Over Hate Crime Incident

Legal Action Against Police in Hate Crime Case

Deepak Kumar, a resident of Uttarakhand, has approached the High Court to contest the charges against him and to demand an inquiry into police officers who allegedly neglected to address hate crimes, as reported by a local news outlet.

Kumar, along with another individual named Vijay Rawat, claims that the first information report (FIR) filed against them is biased.

The FIR was lodged in late January after the two Hindu men intervened to stop the harassment of an elderly Muslim shopkeeper by suspected members of the Bajrang Dal in Pauri Garhwal district.

On January 26, a mob confronted Vakeel Ahmed at his shop, objecting to the use of the term “Baba” in his shop's name. Kumar, who owns a gym, and Rawat protested against the mob's behavior, but were told to refrain from interfering.

The FIR was initiated following a complaint from two individuals affiliated with the Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad, organizations linked to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, which is associated with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

Following the incident, approximately 40 individuals gathered outside Kumar’s gym, chanting slogans against him and obstructing a national highway.

Kumar subsequently filed a complaint regarding the hate speech directed at him by the protesters. However, the police opted to file a case based on an officer's complaint against unidentified individuals related to the protests.

In his petition submitted on March 13, Kumar asserted that the police had not acted despite having evidence, including videos of the incident and information about the individuals involved.

The petition requested the court to instruct the police to take prompt and effective measures against those responsible for hate crimes and hate speech.

A widely circulated video from the incident shows Kumar questioning why other shops can use the term “Baba” while Ahmed’s shop cannot. He also highlighted that the shop has been in operation for over 30 years and questioned whether its name should be altered now.

When asked for his name, Kumar responded, “My name is Mohammad Deepak.”

“I wanted to express that I am an Indian and that everyone deserves equal treatment under the law,” Kumar explained.

Kumar later shared a video on Instagram stating, “I am neither a Hindu, nor a Muslim, nor a Sikh, nor a Christian. Above all, I am a human being. After I pass away, I will answer to God and humanity, not to any religion.”

He emphasized that individuals, regardless of their religion, should not be targeted.

The FIR against Kumar and Rawat has drawn backlash from numerous social media users, who argue that Kumar is being persecuted for advocating for humanity and standing against the harassment of a Muslim individual.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi remarked that Kumar is defending the Constitution and the principles of humanity.