A video circulated online showed Haji Mohammad Usman praying next to his vehicle
Following the complaint filed by the official, an FIR under BNS sections 285 (Danger or obstruction in public way or line of navigation) and 292 (Punishment for public nuisance) has been lodged.
SP city Moradabad Kumar Ranvijay Singh said, “An official, in charge Junior Engineer, from the circuit house, approached police and alleged that Usman had obstructed the way of other visitors to the circuit house after a purported video of the accused came to their knowledge. His other “crime”? Earlier reporting noted: SP leader booked for offering namaz on Moradabad Circuit House road; ‘disgrace’, says Pawan Khera A controversy has erupted in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh after a video showing Samajwadi Party (SP) district vice-president Haji Mohammad Usman, uncle of Bilari MLA Mohammad Faheem Irfan, offering prayers at the government-run Circuit House surfaced on social media, prompting objections from a Hindu organisation and eventually leading to the registration of an FIR. Earlier reporting noted: According to officials, after the meeting ended, Usman stepped outside and offered prayers near the lawn.
Further probe is on. Reacting to the controversy that erupted online after the video surfaced, Congress MP Pawan Khera posted on X, “I am sure Yogi’s invisible convoy of devils must have been crossing this road inside the Circuit House premises in Moradabad and found itself obstructed by this demonstrably harmless old man, peacefully prostrating before his God. That must be why an FIR was registered against him. He happens to be Haji Mohammad Usman, a Samajwadi Party district vice-president, and the uncle of Bilari MLA Mohammad Faheem Irfan, a Muslim. What a disgrace! What a disgrace!,” Khera wrote on X. A video, reportedly recorded by an SP worker, shows him offering prayers beside a parked car.
Earlier reporting noted: Congress MP Pawan Khera reacted strongly to the reports of FIR against Usman and implied that he was being targeted for his Muslim identity. MEERUT: An FIR has been filed against the Moradabad Samajwadi Party district Vice President, Haji Mohammad Usman, a close relative of Bilari MLA Mohammad Faheem Irfan, for allegedly offering namaz on a road in Circuit House on Friday, said police.
Accessed by TOI, “On September 3, Lal Bihari Yadav, Leader of the Opposition in the UP Legislative Council, arrived at the Circuit House in Moradabad for a stay, according to the FIR.
However, Haji Mohammad Usman has said that this is a matter of worship, and he has not committed any crime. Meanwhile, a meeting was organized in the Circuit House’s meeting hall.