Chhattisgarh court sends Hindu seer Kalicharan to 2-day police custody

Chhattisgarh Police arrested Hindu religious leader Kalicharan Maharaj from neighbouring Madhya Pradesh on Thursday over his alleged derogatory remarks against Mahatma Gandhi, following which a court here sent him to police remand for two days, an official said.

Acting on a specific input, a team of Raipur police apprehended Kalicharan Maharaj alias Abhijeet Dhananjay Saraag around 4 am from a rented room near Bageshwar Dham, located about 25 km from Khajuraho town in MP, Raipur Superintendent of Police Prashant Agrawal told PTI.

Three separate teams of Raipur police were sent to trace Kalicharan in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi. The seven-member team which was sent to MP got the success and arrested Kalicharan near Khajuraho, where he was staying in the rented room, he said, adding that he was brought here in the evening via road route.

"Kalicharan was later produced in the court of Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Chetna Thakur this evening. The court sent him to police remand for two days till January 1," Agrawal said.

The supporters of the religious leader expressed solidarity with him by raising slogans like 'Jai Shri Ram' and 'Har Har Mahadev' in the court premises in Raipur district.

The arrest of Kalicharan Maharaj, however, led to a slugfest between the BJP-governed Madhya Pradesh and the Congress-ruled Chhattisgarh.

Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra claimed the action was a violation of the inter-state protocol, a charge denied by Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, who asked Mishra whether he was happy or sad with the arrest of the person who "abused" Mahatma Gandhi.

Baghel also said that action will be taken against those using abusive language against the Father of the Nation, who gave the message of peace and non-violence to the world.

MP Home Minister Mishra termed the Chhattisgarh Police's action as "highly objectionable".

"We have objections to the way Chhattisgarh acted in the matter. It is a violation of the inter-state protocol which the Chhattisgarh Congress government should not have done. The federal structure did not allow such an action," Mishra told reporters in Bhopal when asked about the seer's arrest.

"They should have informed us. If they wanted, they could have summoned him (Kalicharan) by sending a notice. I have asked Madhya Pradesh Director General of Police to immediately talk to Chhattisgarh's DGP and register a strong protest on the way this arrest was effected and also seek an explanation on the issue," the minister said.

Chhattisgarh CM Baghel, meanwhile, denied any violation of protocols in the seer's arrest from the neighbouring state.

"Narottam Mishra ji should first tell whether he is happy or sad with the arrest of the person who abused Mahatma Gandhi. No rules were violated and action was taken as per the legal provisions," Baghel told reporters in Delhi, where he had earlier in the day attended a meeting of finance ministers of states called by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

Baghel also shared a video clip on his Twitter handle in which he said action will be taken against those who use derogatory words against the Father of nation.

"Mahatma Gandhi gave the message of peace, brotherhood, love, truth, non-violence and equality to the world, and if anyone uses abusive language against such a legendary person, then action will be taken against him. The Chhattisgarh Police have taken action. His (Kalicharan) family members and lawyer have been informed and he will be produced in a court within 24 hours," said Baghel, who also holds charge of the state finance department.

Meanwhile, in Indore city of Madhya Pradesh, Congress workers burnt the effigies of Kalicharan Maharaj to condemn his remarks against Mahatma Gandhi, while the supporters of the Hindu seer expressed solidarity with him by offering prayers to Goddess Kali and saying that 'truth always wins'.

During the conclusion of the two-day 'dharma sansad' (religious parliament) in Raipur on Sunday evening, the seer had allegedly used abusive words against the Father of the Nation, and asked people to elect a staunch Hindu leader as the head of the government in order to protect the religion.

On Sunday, an FIR was registered against Kalicharan Maharaj in Chhattisgarh's capital Raipur for allegedly using derogatory words against Mahatma Gandhi.

A case was also registered against him at Akola in Maharashtra on Monday in this connection. The seer is a resident of Shivajinagar in old city area of Akola.

Maharashtra minister Jitendra Awhad also filed a police case in Thane city against the seer on Wednesday over his alleged remarks.

The Pune police also recently registered a case against Kalicharan Maharaj, right-wing leader Milind Ekbote and four others for allegedly making inflammatory speeches during an event in the Maharashtra city on December 19 and hurting religious sentiments, officials earlier said.