The Mumbai police on Sunday registered FIRs at various stations by Shiv Sena members against social activist Teesta Setalvad for her post of an objectionable image of a Hindu religious deity on social networking sites.
The first FIR was lodged at Cuffe Parade Police Station by Ramesh Solanki, Bhartiya Vidyarthi Sena Secretary (Mumbai Division) and Shiv Sena IT Cell Core Committee member, while the other was filed at L T Marg Police Station by him.
Further, an application seeking legal action against her was filed at several police stations in the country including Gomtipur in Ahmedabad by a Shiv Sena worker Jitu Solanki and Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga at Tilak Nagar Police Station in Delhi.
Setalwad had on Friday tweeted a photo-shopped picture showing, among other things, ISIS terrorists with the American journalist James Foley just before his beheading.
Ramesh Solanki said, “Today, I registered complaints against her in Cuffe Parade and L T Marg Police Station and tomorrow (on Monday) will be complaining in Cyber Cell Police Station at Bandra Kurla Complex and will also be submitting the letter to Commissioner of Mumbai Police Mr. Rakesh Maria.”
He further said, “I’m seeking appointments of Chief Minister and Home Minister and once I will get that my delegation will submit letter to them also. Though she has apologised, but we will not let her go this time. She has gone too far.”
Solanki, who was so angry with her, said “She is a big cheat. There are several complaints against her in Ahmedabad and other places. She has back up from ‘so called’ secular leaders to tarnish the image of others.”
Solanki demanded her arrest and said that they have support of other communities like Muslims and Christians against her. “If she does not get arrested after these complaints then we will move to court and will try to go through law.” But he warns that if they fail there they will come to the streets for agitating against her.
Ashoke Pandit, a renowned filmmaker, directly targeted Mahesh Bhatt who shares stage several time with Setalvad. Pandit said, “I was expecting at least a tweet from Mahesh Bhatt sahib condemning Teesta Setalvad’s criminal act. But he has not come up with it. However, then I realised that she insulted Hindu Gods.”
Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga, President, Bhagat Singh Kranti Sena, also filed a complaint at Tilak Nagar Police Station in Delhi said, “I had tweeted the image of the format of the letter on Twitter & put the same on Scribd and if somebody needs then they can take it from there. I want at least 1000 complaints from all over the country. She is deliberately doing this to create communal disharmony in the country.”
Ms. Setalvad had apologised for the ‘inadvertent tweet.’ “The moment I realised that the illustration had created a controversy and had hurt many people, I deleted the tweet and tweeted an immediate apology for having inadvertently hurt their feelings.
“While reiterating my commitment to work for communal harmony, conflict resolution and peace building, I once again offer my sincere apologies for inadvertently hurting religious sentiments,” Ms. Setalvad said.
