Mumbai, Aug 21: In response to the blasphemous remarks made by Mahant Ramgiri Maharaj against Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and the Mother of Believers, Hazrat Aisha, three additional FIRs have been registered at various police stations across Mumbai. This brings the total number of FIRs to ten, with the count continuing to rise.
On Monday, following protests by local residents and the efforts of social and religious activists, FIRs were lodged against Ramgiri at the Malwani, Nirmal Nagar, and Bandra West police stations. Among those who filed complaints were Farooq Musa Sheikh at Malwani Police Station; Furqan Sheikh, Irfan Pandhara, Sameer Malik, and Ashfaq Mansoor at Bandra Police Station; and Liaqat Sheikh and Siddique Tarporwala at Nirmal Nagar Police Station. These individuals were accompanied by hundreds of local residents in their protests. The FIRs accuse the Mahant of hurting the sentiments of Muslims, inciting communal hatred, and other related offenses.
FIRs have also been registered against Ramgiri in Paidhoni, Mahim, Dharavi, Vikhroli, Versova, Mira Road, Bandra, Nirmal Nagar, Malwani, and Mumbra. Notably, in Vikhroli, six mosques had initially submitted written complaints. The local police requested 48 hours to consult with higher authorities before registering the FIR, which was eventually filed by Ismail Khatib, Secretary of Anjuman Mufidul Muslimeen, in the presence of other responsible individuals.
At Mira Road’s Naya Nagar Police Station, Dr. Azimuddin and other community leaders submitted a written complaint, demanding that Senior Inspector Vilas Sope register an FIR. The police, however, referenced an existing FIR in Nalasopara, indicating that the complaint would be included in that case.
Further complaints were lodged by Advocate Ibrahim Sheikh, Haji Shaukat, and other youth leaders at the Shivaji Nagar, Deonar, Mankhurd, and Ghatkopar police stations. Similarly, at Khar Police Station, Javed Sheikh and other local leaders, along with activists from the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, attempted to file an FIR. The senior inspector assured them that their complaint would be attached to the existing FIR in Nirmal Nagar.
An additional FIR was filed at Chunabhatti Police Station by Menaz Shakeel Ahmed Khan, accompanied by Muhammad Khalid Ansari, President of the Azeem Education Society, and other officials from various organizations.
In Pune, the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) also lodged an FIR against Ramgiri Maharaj at Khadki Police Station, demanding his immediate arrest.
All FIRs highlight the Mahant’s provocative and blasphemous speech included false and baseless claims about Islam and Muslims. The complaints and FIRs are collectively demanding the immediate arrest and strict punishment of the Mahant for his blasphemous remarks.
