Nandy leaves Jaipur, fresh FIR filed against him

Author Ashis Nandy, who stoked a controversy with comments that people from Other Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes were the "most corrupt", on Sunday left Jaipur, skipping the rest of the literature festival.

"Investigation into the matter is going on. We have sought the video footage of the session in which he made the remarks and also his clarification to be put on record," said Additional Commissioner of Police Girraj Meena in Jaipur.

"We have been informed by the organisers that Nandy left the city today but proper action will be taken only after the initial probe is over," he said.

Nandy was scheduled to address a session on 'Hindi English Bhai Bhai' at the festival on Sunday morning but failed to turn up, even as the SC/ST Rajasthan Manch, which had filed a police complaint against him, held protests in the city.

In Nashik, a complaint under the Prevention of Atrocities Act was on Sunday filed by a citizen against Nandy for his controversial comments.

"The complaint was filed in Sarkarwada police station by Samadhan Jagtap, seeking Nandy's arrest under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act," said an officer from Sarkarwada police station.

Earlier, an all-party delegation, comprising leaders of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, Shiv Sena, Bharatiya Janata Party, Republican Party of India and Dalit organisations, under the banner of the Bahujan Samaj Sangharsh Samiti, submitted a memorandum to the police, seeking registration of complaint against the author.

Hours after he made the remarks, an FIR was lodged against him in Jaipur under Section 506 IPC (criminal intimidation) and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

"It is a fact that most of the corrupt come from OBCs and Scheduled Castes and now increasingly the Scheduled Tribes," Nandy had said while participating in a session at the Festival on Saturday.

Nandy's comments triggered a political storm, with Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati and Lok Janshakti Party leader Ram Vilas Paswan demanding registration of a case under SC/ST Act against Nandy.

Mayawati demanded that Nandy be jailed immediately. Congress Party, Bharatiya Janata Party, Janata Dal - United, Communist Party of India and SC Commission Chairman P L Punia condemned his remarks.

The author sought to play down the issue, saying he would apologise if he had been misunderstood.

When questioned further, he said, "I don't apologise at all because I hold it very close to my heart. I was, in fact, supporting the cause of those who are marginalised and those who are in minority and those who are oppressed. I have spent all my life supporting their causes and will continue doing it."

He said he actually meant that if people from OBC, SC and ST indulge in corruption, it is "corruption indeed", while those from upper castes can go scot-free.

According to police sources in Jaipur, the officer, who has been assigned the case, is on leave, an issue raised by the protesters.

When asked if the investigating officer is on leave, Meena said, "The probe is going on and I will seek a clarification from the officer if required."

Assistant Commissioner of Police Ashok Nagar and Investigating Officer Sumit Gupta did not respond to repeated calls.

Janesh Singh, Station House Officer of the Ashok Nagar police station, where the FIR was filed against Nandy and the organiser Sanjoy Roy on Saturday evening over the remarks, said that the statements of the complainant and the organiser would be recorded.

Rajpal Meena of the SC/ST Rajasthan Manch, who lodged the complaint, along with his supporters on Sunday protested against Nandy and the organiser at Ambedkar Circle.

"We are demanding immediately the arrest of Nandy for his derogatory remarks against STs and the organisers of the festival for allowing him to make the controversial remarks," the complainant said.

"It is surprising that the IO is on leave. It gives the impression that the police want to protect him but we are not going to sit quiet," he said.

Local activists also protested near the entrance of the venue at the main road and shouted slogans against him.