DU's Hindu College Professor Ratan Lal Arrested For Objectionable Post On Shivling Found Inside Gyanvapi Complex

Associate professor of Delhi University's Hindu College Ratan Lal was arrested on Friday night for his objectionable social media post referring to claims about a 'Shivling' found inside Varanasi's Gyanvapi mosque complex, police said.

According to police, Lal, who teaches history, had allegedly posted a photo of the structure and made objectionable comments on Tuesday, reports Indian Express.

They said Lal was arrested under Indian Penal Code sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and 295A (deliberate act to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion) by the Cyber Police Station, North.

An FIR was lodged against Lal on Tuesday night based on a complaint filed by a Delhi-based lawyer Vineet Jindal.

In his complaint, Jindal said Lal had recently shared a 'derogatory, inciting and provocating tweet on the Shivling'.

The statement made by Lal on his Twitter account is 'instigating and provoking', he said in the complaint.

The statement was posted on the issue of a 'Shivling' found in the Gyanvapi mosque complex which is very sensitive in nature and the matter is pending before the court, the lawyer said in his complaint.

(With inputs from PTI)