New Delhi, 31 August—In a significant intervention setting aside Uttarakhand High Court’s order, the Supreme Court today stayed proceedings arising from an FIR against Dehradun gym owner Deepak Kumar, popularly referred to as ‘Mohammad Deepak’, over a confrontation involving members of the Bajrang Dal and a Muslim shopkeeper.
A bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta also stayed the operation of an Uttarakhand High Court order that had restrained Deepak from making social media posts or issuing public statements about the incident and the case giving relief to a gym owner who stood to defend secular social ethos in the country.
The apex court issued notice to the respondents on Deepak’s plea challenging the high court’s refusal to quash the FIR.
Deepak had approached the high court seeking quashing of the FIR registered against him but the high court had declined to interfere and instead directed him to cooperate with the investigation.
The High Court, in its wisdom, had also directed Deepak and another person associated with the case not to make statements or upload videos on social media concerning the matter.
In the Supreme Court, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi argued that Deepak had himself lodged complaints regarding the incident but no action was taken on them, while an FIR was registered against him.
“How can a good Samaritan be subjected to this kind of a complaint?” Singhvi reportedly told the court
Singhvi also argued that a rioting charge under Section 191 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita had been invoked against Deepak despite the required conditions not being met. The charge was subsequently dropped for the same reason.
Deepak had gained widespread attention on social media after a confrontation with Bajrang Dal members in Uttarakhand, who allegedly objected to a Muslim shopkeeper using the word “Baba” in his shop’s name.
Videos of the confrontation circulated widely on social media. During the exchange, Deepak was heard saying, “My name is Mohammad Deepak”.
The incident triggered a wider debate on communal tensions and religious polarisation, with Deepak receiving attention for standing up for the Muslim shopkeeper.
At Delhi’s Jantar Mantar during the Cockroach Janta Party-led protests that led to Dharmendra Pradhan resigning as India’s education minister, a number of protesters had said “My name is Mohammad Deepak”, highlighting how his story had inspired people across the country.
The Supreme Court’s interim order now puts a stay on further proceedings arising from the FIR while the court considers his challenge to the case. The restraint imposed by the High Court on his social media posts and public statements has also been stayed.
Veteran Journalist and Political Commentator
