An Uttar Pradesh IPS officer today sought inclusion of a charge of promoting enmity in the FIR registered against former minister and BSP leader Haji Yaqoob Qureshi and announced a personal reward of Rs 20,000 on him.
In a letter sent to Uttar Pradesh DGP, Amitabh Thakur sought that section 153A of IPC (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language) should be added in the FIR registered against Qureshi in Meerut.
BSP leader Qureshi was booked under section 505(1)(c) IPC (with intent to incite, or likely to incite, any class or community of persons to commit any offence against any other class or community) in connection with his controversial remarks defending the terror attack on Charlie Hebdo, a French satirical magazine, saying whoever shows disrespect to the Prophet will invite death.
Presenting legal definitions of both sections of law, Thakur said when the police believe that the statement was made with an intent to incite, or which is likely to incite any community to commit an offence against other community, it also comes as an act of promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between different religious groups, which is likely to disturb public tranquility.
He said though the two sections have same punishment of three years, section 505(1)(c) IPC is a non-cognisable offence while section 153A IPC is a cognisable offence where the police can immediately initiate the investigation and make an arrest, if found true.
Terming Qureshi's statement as being opposed to humanity, Thakur also announced a personal reward of Rs 20,000 to the police team that arrests Qureshi.
Police had yesterday said it would seek permission of the court before probing the case registered against the BSP leader.
"We will seek permission of the court before probing the matter," IG(Law and Order) A Satish Ganesh had said.
