Ratan Lal, Professor of History at Delhi University (DU), was produced in Tis Hazari Court on Saturday. The court has granted him bail. Ratan Lal is accused of hurting religious beliefs. The court considered in its decision that the hurt of one person cannot be considered as an effect on the entire community. The court observed that no facts have come to the fore on the Gyanvapi case so far. The hearing is going on now. In such a situation, what is on social media is wrong.
Allowing the bail, the court said that Ratan Lal should also refrain from posting anything related to the case. He will not even give any such interview which is related to the FIR. The court held that the posts made by the professor were based on conjectures. India’s society is one of the oldest in the world and it respects all religions. Ratan Lal’s post may irritate anyone, but it is not that there should be enmity between the two communities. Still, he should have refrained from commenting on such matters. His work is wrong in the kind of person he is.
The court said that the police’s concern is justified. Then he registered the case. But we feel that custody is not an essential thing in this case. The accused is a man of good reputation. There is no sign of him running away. So he should be released on bail. On the complaint of a social worker against Ratan Lal under IPC sections 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion) and 295-A (malicious act done with intent to outrage religious feelings) Case was registered.
Ratan Lal had made a post on social media after he allegedly found a Shivling inside the Gyanvapi Masjid complex. The cyber cell had registered a case against the professor. A complaint was received that he had made fun of Shivling in a social media post. He was arrested from Maurice Nagar on Friday night.
After the case was registered, the professor responded saying that he did not intend to hurt anyone’s religious sentiments. Being a historian, he has given his opinion after reviewing it. After the social media post went viral, Ratan Lal posted a video saying that he was getting many threats online and had sought police protection and help.