On Sunday, the Chennai police arrested a 32-year-old bakery shop owner for alleged promotion of his products using a tagline that said ‘his firm does not employ Muslims’. Prashanth, the owner of Jain Bakeries and Confectioneries was arrested for using an offensive tagline ‘made by Jains on orders, no Muslim staffs’ in a pamphlet that he shared on WhatsApp groups.
As per sources, the image of the pamphlet went viral on social media with calls for action against Prashanth growing louder. Subsequently, a complaint was lodged against him as his tagline and selection of words evoke religious animosity, depicting Muslims in a bad light.
Soon, Mambalam Police said a case has been registered under Section 295A (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) and section 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) of the Indian Penal Code.
Earlier in Mumbai, a man was arrested after he allegedly refused to collect groceries which he had ordered online because the delivery person was a Muslim. Other such similar cases have been reported in other states including Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. In Dwarka, a suburb in Delhi, several residents of a co-operative housing society refused to buy vegetables as the vegetable vendor was a Muslim.
