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SC Grants Bail to Jitendra Tyagi in Haridwar Hate Speech Case

Khushi Bajpai

Published on: September 12, 2022 at 20:08 IST

The Supreme Court on Monday granted bail to Jitendra Narayan Tyagi, aka Waseem Rizvi, in the matter connected to the alleged hate remarks made at the Dharma Sansad, which was hosted in Haridwar between 17th and the 19th December, 2021.

Waseem Rizvi was granted bail by the Justice Ajay Rastogi and Justice B. V. Nagarathna-led panel, who also placed several restrictions on him.

One of the requirements is that he refrain from addressing electronic media. The bench noted that after an investigation, the police filed a chargesheet and granted bail to the co-accused in the case.

On August 29, the Supreme Court instructed Tyagi to appear in court after declining to prolong the temporary bail, which had been granted on May 17 for a period of three months due to Tyagi’s health.

Tyagi has surrendered in accordance with the prior decision, Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra informed the bench today.

A court petition filed by Tyagi seeking to club following FIRs was also given notice by the bench.

Tyagi was detained on January 13 of this year in connection with an investigation into alleged violations of Sections 153A and 298 of the Indian Penal Code.

Justice Ravindra Maithani’s lone bench denied him bail due to the extremely offensive words he had made.

The Court declared that the remark was hateful because “the Prophet has been misused; it intends to hurt the religious sensibilities of those belonging to a certain religion; it intends to wage war; it fosters hostility.”

Formerly known as Wasim Rizvi, Jitendra Tyagi served as the UP Shia Waqf Board’s Chairman. He adopted the name Jitendra Narayan Singh Tyagi and converted to Hinduism in December of the previous year.