Jalandhar Police booked a case against Mahatma Gandhi’s great-grandson Tushar Gandhi for allegedly making offensive remarks against freedom fighter Bhagat Singh during a function.

"The case was registered against Gandhi under Section 295 (A) (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class) of the IPC after a complaint by chairman of an NGO Jan Jagriti Manch, Kishan Lal," Bimal Kant, Inspector at Jalandhar Police Commisionerate, said on Sunday.

Mr Gandhi, speaking to media in Jaipur, had called Bhagat Singh "guilty of British rule, due to which Mahatma Gandhi had not asked for suspension of his sentence."

In this regard, Jalandhar police acted on Sunday after members of an NGO and BJP leader Kishan Lal Sharma filed a compliant against Tushar saying that he had hurt the sentiments of the people.

Sharma said, “(Tushar) Gandhi’s statement that Shaheed Bhagat Singh was a criminal for the British rulers and thus Mahatma Gandhi did not intervene to get his death sentence commuted is an insult of the martyr.”

The police commissioner forwarded the accusation for inquiry to ADCP (crime) J Elanchezhian, who found the complaint to be genuine and ordered the chief of police station-8 to register a case.

Police registered a case against Tushar under under Section 295(A) of the Indian Penal Code, which relates to deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs.

BJP workers led by Sharma also burnt an effigy of Tushar at the Bhagat Singh Chowk.

Opinion

So who is this Tushar and what is he upto? A simple brainless and spineless fellow, who persists and carryon his existence purely on his surname. Mr. Tushar, Just for your Information, Bhagat Singh is a great patriot and even Pakistan recognizes his sacrifice and built a memorial in Lahore recently. While the archrivals paid respects to him, a person like you who tries to belittle his efforts should be hanged till death.

- Manohar