Mohd Deepak held for ‘assaulting’ businessman

Dehradun; A gym owner from Pauri Garhwal’s Kotdwar, Deepak Kumar, who shot into the limelight for confronting members of Bajrang Dal harassing a Muslim shopkeeper early this year, was arrested for allegedly abusing, assaulting and threatening a businessman, police said. Police said the arrest was made as a preventive measure amid apprehension of a breach of peace.

According to police, Deepak was arrested following an investigation into a complaint lodged by businessman Sanjeev Tonk at Kotdwar Kotwali police station.

Tonk alleged that Deepak behaved rudely with him, used abusive language and threatened to kill him, police said. A case was initially registered against Deepak under Sections 351(2) (criminal intimidation) and 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and an investigation was launched.

During the investigation, police said Sections 196 (promoting enmity or disturbing harmony between different groups on grounds including religion, caste or language) and 115 (voluntarily causing hurt) of the BNS were also added based on CCTV footage, photographs and other evidence. Police said the investigation revealed a prima facie case that Deepak had abused the complainant and threatened to kill him.