New Delhi, 31 August (H.S.): The Supreme Court has stayed proceedings arising from an FIR registered against Dehradun gym operator Mohammed Deepak. Justice Vikram Nath also stayed an order of the High Court that had restrained Deepak from making any social media posts concerning a dispute between Bajrang Dal workers and a Muslim fruit vendor.

During the hearing, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Mohammed Deepak, said his client had intervened when Bajrang Dal workers objected to the use of the word “Baba” in the name of a Muslim fruit vendor’s shop.

Singhvi said that when the Bajrang Dal workers confronted Deepak and asked for his name, he identified himself as Mohammed Deepak. He said the incident took place on Republic Day and that a video of the incident subsequently went viral.

Singhvi submitted that Mohammed Deepak had intervened to help the fruit vendor, but an FIR was registered against him instead. Referring to the video recording of the incident, he argued that the High Court’s order was equally erroneous.

He said the High Court had restrained Mohammed Deepak from posting anything about the incident on social media. Instead of granting relief, the court had effectively directed him to remain completely silent.

The Supreme Court subsequently stayed further proceedings pursuant to the FIR and also stayed the High Court’s order restraining Mohammed Deepak from making social media posts concerning the incident.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar