Raipur Police have arrested Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel’s father Nand Kumar Baghel in a case registered against him for allegedly making derogatory comments against Brahmin community and Lord Ram. Police have arrested Nand Kumar Baghel from Delhi and brought to Raipur on Tuesday, said a senior police officer. Baghel was produced before the court of Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Janak Kumar Hidko from where he was sent to 15 days judicial remand, added the officer. Acting on a written complaint filed by Sarv Brahmin Samaj, D D Nagar police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Nand Kumar Baghel (86), father of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, on September 4 for allegedly making derogatory comment against Brahmin community and lord Ram, said a police officer. On the complaint, D D Nagar police have registered an offence against Nand Kumar Baghel under Sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and 505(1)(b) (with intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public, or to any section of the public whereby any person may be induced to commit an offence against the State or against the public tranquility) of Indian Penal Code (IPC).

 

According to police, the octogenarian did not apply for bail. After a controversy erupted over the alleged remarks of his father, the Chief Minister had said he was pained and asserted nobody was above law and police will take appropriate action in the matter. “The remarks made by my father Nand Kumar Baghel against a specific class have come to my attention. The comments have hurt the sentiments of the class as well as (affected) social harmony and I am also pained by them,” Bhupesh Baghel had said in a statement. “Nobody is above law under my Government even if he is the Chief Minister’s 86-year-old father,” the Congress CM had said. He said the Chhattisgarh Government respects every religion, caste and community and their sentiments, and gives equal importance to everyone, the statement added.