Palghar, Maharashtra: A man was assaulted by local residents and subsequently arrested in Maharashtra’s Palghar district after allegedly making objectionable remarks about Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in a WhatsApp group discussion, police said on Sunday.
The incident took place on April 28 in the Vijay Nagar area of Nalasopara East. The accused, identified as Akshaydeep Bharatkumar Visawadiya, reportedly became involved in a heated exchange over Gujarati and Marathi identities in a community WhatsApp group. During the debate, Visawadiya is said to have made derogatory comments about Shivaji Maharaj, a revered historical figure in Maharashtra.
Angered by the remarks, a group of local residents confronted Visawadiya at his housing society. He was allegedly assaulted before being handed over to police by the mob. A video of the incident, showing the man being beaten, has since surfaced on social media and is widely circulating.
Following the incident, the police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Visawadiya under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). He has been booked under sections 299 (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings), 356(2) (defamation), and 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace).
Police officials have stated that an investigation is underway. Authorities have also urged citizens to refrain from taking the law into their own hands and to report such matters to law enforcement.
