Poll panel order FIR against Ramdas Kadam for hate speech

Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam for allegedly giving an inflammatory speech during a political rally in the city two days back.

Sources in the poll panel said the FIR was registered in the evening against the Sena leader under Section 153 (A) and (B) of the Indian Penal Code and sections 123 (3), (4) and 125 of the Representation of the People's Act.

Section 153 (A) of IPC deals with promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony. Section 153 (B) pertains to imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration.

Kadam had allegedly passed "anti-Muslim" remarks at the NDA rally held at the Bandra Kurla Complex here on April 21 just before BJP's prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi's address.

An assistant returning officer of the election commission went to the BKC police station on Tuesday evening to bring the alleged provocative speech to the notice of the police.

Referring to 2012 Azad Maidan riots, Kadam said that Muslims had allegedly clashed with the police, torched their vehicles, vandalised the statues of the martyrs and molested female constables. The Sena man added that Modi would ensure that such acts do not go unpunished. Shiv Sena had distanced itself from Kadam's remarks on Tuesday stating that they were his "personal views and did not reflect the party position".

Besides this, several other complaints of violation of model code of conduct were reported on Wednesday from political outfits. However, the EC did not confirm any.