By Ghazala Ahmad
A lawyer, three Muslim journalists and two other social media users have been booked by Uttar Pradesh’s Shamli Police for allegedly sharing “misleading and factless” posts claiming that the Allahabad High Court had reprimanded Shamli Police during proceedings in the case involving 31-year-old Ayush Malik.
The court last week ruled that Malik voluntarily embraced Islam and alleged that his father subsequently subjected him to threats and unlawful confinement.
The FIR was registered at Kotwali Shamli Police Station on September 16 under Section 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), following a complaint by Sub-Inspector Mohd Jahangir.
The FIR names advocate Syed Kaif Hasan, journalist Karishma Aziz and Nikhat Ali (@INikhatAli), Wasim Akram Tyagi (@WasimAkramTyagi), The Muslim (@TheMuslimSphere), and Facebook user Nadeem Saifi.
According to the FIR, the accused allegedly circulated posts on X and Facebook claiming that the Allahabad High Court had “reprimanded” (fatkar lagayi hai) Shamli Police during the proceedings.
The police have described the posts as “misleading and factless” (Brahmik evam tathayheen), alleging that the High Court’s order was “distorted and presented”(Tod marod kar prastut) on social media “in a manner capable of affecting public peace”.
The FIR comes after the Allahabad High Court on September 16 set Ayush Malik at liberty after he told the court that he had voluntarily embraced Islam. Malik had also alleged that his father had subjected him to threats and unlawful confinement.
The court had directed the Superintendent of Police, Shamli, to produce Malik before it on September 16 after a petition filed by Sultan Qari, who described himself as Malik’s friend, sought directions for Malik to be produced before the court, have his statement recorded and be allowed to live independently.
This story was originally published in maktoobmedia.com. Read the full story here.
