Ramcharitmanas Controversy: Shivendra Mishra filed a case against Swami Prasad Maurya at the Hazratganj police station on January 24.
Swami Prasad Maurya allegedly made an offensive remark about Ramcharitmanas on a news channel on January 22.
In a controversial remark, the SP leader stated that there are numerous crores of people who have not read Ramcharitmanas.
He said that the British Raj provided Dalits with the right to read and write and that the British Raj also granted women the right to be literate.
He went on to claim that the Hindu religious scripture was "all nonsense," and he encouraged the government to either remove the problematic section of Ramcharitmanas or to outright ban the book.
According to him, the above-mentioned holy literature gives 'Shudras' a low caste. He further stated that Tulsidas authored the text for his pleasure.
Maurya has been charged with violating IPC sections 295-A, 298, 504, 505(2), and 153-A. Section 295-A prohibits intentionally and maliciously disparaging religion or religious beliefs to incite religious feelings in any class.
Mishra alleged in the FIR that Maurya's statement on Ramcharitmanas was damaging to the Hindu community and threatened to divide the community along caste lines.
Previously, on January 22, Maurya told a news channel that Ramcharitamanas, written by Goswami Tulsidas in the 17th century, promoted social discrimination and hatred.
Inspector Akhilesh Kumar Mishra of Hazratganj has stated that the video statement provided during the investigation of the case was thoroughly examined and it was determined that the statement belonged to the accused.
As a result, a notice was issued to the accused based on this evidence. Upon completion of the investigation, including taking the statement, a charge sheet was filed.
However, the sections imposed on Swami Prasad Maurya do not exceed the maximum punishment period of seven years.
Following the filing of the chargesheet, the SP leader will face a court proceeding.
