Gym owner Deepak Kumar, who came into the spotlight earlier this year after confronting members of the Bajrang Dal over their alleged harassment of a Muslim shopkeeper in Kotdwar, was arrested on Thursday, October 1, police said.
Police said Kumar was arrested as a preventive measure after a complaint by businessman Sanjeev Tonk, who allegedly accused him of abusing, assaulting and threatening him.
According to police, Kumar was arrested in the evening following an investigation into the complaint filed at Kotdwar Kotwali police station.
Police Add Sections After Investigation
Police said Tonk alleged that Kumar behaved rudely with him, used abusive language and threatened to kill him.
A case was initially registered under Sections 351(2) and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), relating to criminal intimidation and intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of peace.
During the investigation, police said Sections 196 and 115 of the BNS were also added after examining CCTV footage, photographs and other evidence.
Section 196 deals with promoting enmity or disturbing harmony between different groups on grounds including religion, caste or language, while Section 115 relates to voluntarily causing hurt.
Police said the investigation had established a prima facie case that Kumar abused the complainant and allegedly threatened to kill him.
Police Cite Law and Order Concerns
Police said Kumar was arrested under Section 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which allows preventive action when authorities apprehend the commission of a cognisable offence.
Police cited the available evidence and concerns over a possible disturbance to law and order as reasons for the preventive arrest.
Later on Thursday evening, police also conducted a flag march in the Kotdwar Municipal Corporation area as a security measure.
Deepak Had Gained Attention Over Muslim Shopkeeper Incident
Kumar had gained attention in January after he intervened during a dispute involving members of the Bajrang Dal and an elderly Muslim shopkeeper in Kotdwar.
The protesters had reportedly objected to the use of the word “Baba” in the name of the shopkeeper’s establishment.
During the argument, Kumar identified himself as “Mohammad Deepak”. A video of the incident subsequently went viral on social media, after which he became known by that name, police said.
