Gowtham K

Tamil Nadu Police have invoked Goondas Act against two individuals, who were arrested for allegedly making derogatory remarks on religious icons. One of them, S.J. Gopal alias Mount Gopal, 46, who belongs to Hindu Tamilar Peravai, an allied organization of BJP, had purportedly circulated defamatory content against Prophet Muhammad while the other one, Surendran alias Nathigan, 33, who is a presenter on a Youtube channel, Kurappar Kootam, and claims to be an atheist, was accused of sharing a defamatory content against Lord Murugan, a Hindu deity that is popular in Tamil Nadu.

Commissioner of TN Police Mr. Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal has issued orders in this regard.

Surendran was arrested in Puducherry by the Cyber Crime Cell of Central Crime Branch following registration of a police complaint by the state unit of BJP. Similarly, Gopal was arrested by Conventional Crime Unit of the CCB following complaints filed by the Welfare Party of India and Popular Front of India.

Both were booked in two separate cases under Sections 153 (Wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 153 A(1)(a)(Promoting of creating enmity between beliefs of different groups), 295(A)(Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings), 505(1)(b)and other provisions of the IPC. On Monday, both were charged under the Goondas Act on orders issued by Mr. Agarwal.

Tamil Nadu has seen a rise in dissemination of derogatory remarks against religions personalities. Earlier this month, a cartoonist named Varma cartoonist was arrested for his allegedly abusive comments on Prophet Muhammad.