Gym owner Deepak Kumar, also known as ‘Mohammad’ Deepak, was released on bail on Friday evening after being arrested in connection with a dispute with Kotdwar businessman Sanjeev Tonk over a social media comment concerning the partial demolition of a mosque in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh.
According to police, Tonk had complained that Deepak confronted him at his shop following a disagreement over a comment on a social media post. The complainant alleged that Deepak abused, assaulted and threatened him during the confrontation.
Police registered a case against Deepak under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). He was subsequently arrested under Section 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) as a preventive measure, with police citing concerns about a possible breach of peace and law and order.
Deepak was produced before a magistrate on Friday. He was released after furnishing a bond to maintain peace and public order. Police officials confirmed that he was granted bail and released on Friday evening.
The dispute reportedly began after a social media post related to the partial demolition of a mosque in Ujjain. Deepak had posted a video on Facebook in which he called for Muslims in Ujjain to protest peacefully and seek an amicable solution to the matter. The post reportedly received thousands of reactions and comments, including a comment attributed to Tonk.
According to the police account, the disagreement later escalated into a confrontation at Tonk’s shop. Police said an FIR was registered after Tonk approached the Kotdwar police with his complaint.
There are, however, differing accounts of how the confrontation began. People close to Deepak claimed that Tonk had been making comments about him since an earlier incident in January. Tonk denied this and said that the interaction between the two men followed the social media dispute.
Deepak had earlier gained public attention in Kotdwar after confronting members of the Bajrang Dal during an incident involving an elderly Muslim shopkeeper. A video of that incident circulated widely on social media, bringing him into the public spotlight.
Police also carried out a flag march in Kotdwar following the latest incident amid concerns about maintaining law and order.
With Deepak’s release after his appearance before the magistrate and execution of the peace bond, the immediate legal proceedings related to his arrest have moved forward while the case and allegations remain subject to the ongoing legal process.
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