Mahatma Gandhi’s great-grandson Tushar Gandhi on Thursday filed a police complaint in Maharashtra’s Pune city against Hindutva leader Sambhaji Bhide for his alleged derogatory remarks against the Father of the Nation. Bhide, popularly known as Bhide Guruji among his followers, is accused of making objectionable remarks about Mahatma Gandhi’s lineage in his speech during a program in Amravati district in the last week of July.
Following his remarks, First Information Reports (FIRs) were filed against Bhide, the founder of the Shree Shiv Pratishthan Hindustan organization, in Amravati and Nashik. Tushar Gandhi, along with lawyer Aseem Sarode and others, went to the Deccan Gymkhana police station in Pune city on Thursday and submitted a complaint against Bhide.
Gandhi filed a case under several sections
Tushar Gandhi sought registration of a case under sections 499 (defamation), 153 (A) (promoting enmity between different groups) and 505 (statements promoting public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Speaking to reporters, Gandhi said, “Bhide has not only made derogatory statements against Bapu, but has also made derogatory remarks against his family.” “The state home minister assured strict action, but it seems no action has been taken so far,” he alleged. According to Gandhi, he sought action against Bhide under IPC sections and filed a complaint application against them.
A senior officer at Deccan police station said, “We have received a complaint application from Gandhi and we are looking into it.”