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A Uttarakhand Local Court has denied bail to Yati Narsinghanand, the head priest of Dasna Devi temple in Uttar Pradesh in a case registered against him for alleged derogatory remarks against Muslim women.

The Chief Judicial Magistrate, Haridwar, Mukesh Arya noted in the order, "Despite being issued a Section 41A CrPC notice in the past, he is repeatedly passing/making comments related to inciting of communal passions by spoiling religious harmony/atmosphere through social media and there is a strong possibility of serious crimes being committed in the area.”

Therefore, stressing that the offense committed by Narsinghanand is of serious nature, the Court rejected his bail application.

Matter in Brief

A case was registered against Narsinghanand under Sections 295A and 509 of Indian Penal Code alleging that in two of his videos, which were posted on Twitter and YouTube, he was seen making objectionable/derogatory remarks towards Muslim women.

Allegedly, Narsinghanand was seen as saying that the Muslims have captured everything, that they have joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), that they have captured the RSS and for the service of Islam, their women can act as mistresses of anyone and that they (women) are their greatest strength. 

Following the registration of the FIR, he has been in Judicial custody on January 16, 2022, and thereafter, he moved his bail plea before the Haridwar CJM Court. 

It was argued by Narsinghanand that he is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the matter and that no specific allegation has been levelled against him in the First Information Report. 

He had also contended that the concerned FIR doesn’t state as to what statement had been made against any community and whose sentiments were hurt by the alleged statements. 

Furthermore, he had argued that the said FIR had been filed with a delay and there was no evidence on record against him. He had also pleaded his release on grounds of serious illness.

However, the Haridwar Court rejected contentions raised by Narsinghanand and rejected his bail. 

Case Title: State of Uttarakhand v. Yati Narsinghanand