Gyanvapi case: Delhi University associate professor granted bail over objectionable post on 'Shivling'

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Gyanvapi case: Associate professor of Delhi University's Hindu College Ratan Lal was granted bail by a Delhi court on Saturday following his arrest on Friday night for an objectionable social media post referring to claims about a 'Shivling' found inside Varanasi's Gyanvapi mosque complex. The court granted relief to Lal on furnishing a personal bond of Rs 50,000 and one surety of like amount.

Lal was arrested under Indian Penal Code sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and 295A  (deliberate act to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion) by the Cyber Police Station, North.

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An FIR was lodged against Lal on Tuesday night based on a complaint filed by a Delhi-based lawyer. In his complaint, advocate Vineet Jindal said Lal had recently shared a "derogatory, inciting and provocating tweet on the Shivling". The statement made by Lal on his Twitter account is "instigating and provoking", he said in the complaint. The statement was posted on the issue of a 'Shivling' found in the Gyanvapi mosque complex which is very sensitive in nature and the matter is pending before the court, the lawyer said in his complaint. 

Defending his post earlier, Lal had said, "In India, if you speak about anything, someone or the other's sentiment will be hurt. So this is nothing new. I am a historian and have made several observations. As I wrote them down, I have used very guarded language in my post and still this. I will defend myself." 

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