Jitendra Tyagi gets bail, Court says 'no hate speech'
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The Supreme Court granted interim bail to Jitendra Tyagi who was arrested in connection with hate speeches at the Haridwar Dharam Sansad. The bail for three months is granted with the condition that he will not indulge in hate speech or give statements to the media.
Tyagi, formerly known as Waseem Rizvi, was the chairman of the UP Shia Waqf Board. In December 2021, he converted to Hinduism and changed his name to Jitendra Narayan Singh Tyagi.
He was arrested on January 13 for making "hugely derogatory remarks". Tyagi was booked under Section 153A and 298. Justice Ravindra Maithani of the Uttarakhand High Court refused him bail on March 8 observing that he made statements intending to wound religious feelings.
The Supreme Court has granted bail on medical grounds. A bench headed by Justice Ajay Rastogi and comprising Justice Vikram Nath said Tyagi will only be released if he mended his ways. The court insisted on maintaining communal harmony at all costs. "This is the major condition we have today".
The top court said speakers need to be sensitised as such speeches spoil the atmosphere. The bench queried what is the maximum punishment in the case registered against Tyagi. The Uttarakhand state council said for such a speech given at a religious place, the maximum sentence is five years. But since Tyagi was speaking at a Dharma Sansad, which is not a religious place, he will be sentenced to a maximum of three years.
