NEW DELHI: Granting relief to Dehradun-based gym owner ‘Mohd’ Deepak Kumar against whom an FIR was lodged for confronting Bajrang Dal members, Supreme Court on Monday stayed the proceedings against him and sought a response from Uttarakhand govt on quashing of the case.A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta also stayed operation of the order passed by Uttarakhand HC that had restrained Deepak from making social media posts about the incident and the case. Appearing for Deepak, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi said his client had protected a Muslim shopkeeper and intervened after Bajrang Dal members objected to the shopkeeper using the word ‘Baba’ in his shop’s name.
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He said Deepak had gone to assist the shopkeeper after the incident and he had himself lodged complaints regarding the incident, but that no action was taken on them and instead an FIR was registered against him.“How can a good samaritan be subjected to this kind of a complaint?” Singhvi asked.The bench, after a brief hearing, agreed to examine the plea and granted interim protection to Deepak. “Issue notice. In the meantime, proceedings from the impugned FIR, effect and operation of the HC order to remain stayed,” court said.The case against Deepak pertains to offences under BNS sections 115(2) (causing hurt), 191(1) (rioting), 351(2) (criminal intimidation), and 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace).
