The Uttarakhand High Court on Thursday told gym owner Deepak Kumar, who opposed the harassment of an elderly Muslim shopkeeper by alleged Bajrang Dal members, that he was attempting to sensationalise the matter by seeking police protection as part of his petition, Bar and Bench reported.

Justice Rakesh Thapliyal made the oral observation while hearing a petition moved by Kumar challenging the case against him, seeking protection and requesting a departmental inquiry against police officers who allegedly failed to act against hate crimes.

On January 26, alleged Bajrang Dal members had arrived at the shop of an elderly Muslim man named Vakeel Ahmed in the Pauri Garhwal district, objecting to him using the word “Baba” in the name of his establishment.

Kumar and another person, Vijay Rawat, objected to the mob’s actions, after which the two Hindu men were asked not to intervene.

The first information report against Kumar and Rawat was filed in late January.

The FIR had been registered based on a complaint by two persons who are members of the Bajrang Dal and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. The outfits are a group of Hindutva organisations led by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the parent organisation of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

Subsequently, a group of about 40 persons gathered near Kumar’s gym and shouted slogans against him. The protesters also...

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