TISS student Urvashi Chudawala, 50 others booked under sedition by Mumbai Police

Mumbai Police on Saturday registered a case against more than 50 people under sedition charges for raising “anti-national” slogans in support of Activist Sharjeel Imam. 

Queer Azaadi Mumbai (QAM) organised the 'Mumbai Pride Solidarity Gathering 2020' on February 1 at Azad Maidan. In the parade, the supporters of activist Sharjeel Imam raised slogans in his support: "Sharjeel tere sapno ko mazil tak pahuchayengey (Sharjeel, we will actualise your dreams)".

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Pranay Ashok informed that activist Urvashi Chudawala and 50 others have been booked under sections 124 (A) (sedition), 153 (B) (Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration), 505 (statement conducting to public mischief) and 34 (Common Intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). 

"We have registered an FIR against Chudawala and 50 others. We will call them to Azad Maidan police station for further investigation," Pranay Ashok was quoted by PTI. 

Mumbai police registered the case after a video went viral where Chudawala can be seen raising slogans in support of Sharjeel Imam during an LGBTQ event. Urvashi Chudawala is associated with TISS Queer Collective and is a second-year student pursuing MA in media and culture at Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS).

A police official informed that Chudawala was leading the pro-Sharjeel Imam slogans. BJP leader Kirit Somaiya filed a complaint in this regard on February 2. Somaiya had threatened to go on a 'dharna' if the police fail to take action within three days. 

"What is this going on Mumbai? And why is the Maharashtra government tolerating this?" Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and BJP leader, Devendra Fadnavis asked on Twitter.

Sharjeel Imam gave a controversial speech at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) before the crowd protesting against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC), advocating for a 'chakka jam' and separating North Eastern states from rest of India. 

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As the speech created a huge ruckus, Sharjeel Imam was booked under sedition charges and was arrested in Bihar by Delhi Police.