Nupur Sharma gets a case registered on rape, death threats to her

Suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma has gotten a case filed claiming she is receiving rape and death threats over her remark on Prophet Muhammad.

Her comments had received strong backlash from the Muslim community, including from Islamic countries, and also triggered violence in UP’s Kanpur, where 40 people were injured.

Following international pressure, BJP had said that it respects all religions and suspended Nupur Sharma and expelled another leader Naveen Jindal.

Nupur Sharma has however been saying that she has been receiving rape and death threats and asked people not to repeat her messages.

Also read: ‘Unconditionally withdraw my statement’: BJP’s Nupur Sharma after suspension

“Based on the FIR, we have initiated a probe into the matter,” a senior police official told PTI. According to the officials, the FIR has been registered under IPC sections 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence), 506 (criminal intimidation), 507 (criminal intimidation by an anonymous communication) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) against the unknown people.

Police said that on May 28, a complaint by Sharma was received at cyber cell unit against various persons regarding death threats and targeted hatred to her. On this complaint, a case was registered under the aforesaid sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), they said.

“During investigation, another complaint by Sharma was received against certain persons regarding promoting enmity. After examining the complaint, Section 153A of IPC was added to this case. Notices have been sent to Twitter Inc. and a reply from it is awaited.”

Party backs out

Nupur had however told Opindia.com that the party’s top leaders, including Devendra Fadnavis, were behind her. But she was soon suspended thereafter.

“You have expressed views contrary to the party’s position on various matters”, the suspension letter read, adding that she had been suspended pending inquiry.

In response, Sharma requested media not to make her comment public.

“I request all media houses and everybody else not to make my address public. There is a security threat to my family,” she tweeted.

In another tweet, she said she “unconditionally” withdraws her statement. “If my words have caused discomfort or hurt religious feelings of anyone whatsoever, I hereby unconditionally withdraw my statement. It was never my intention to hurt anyone’s religious feelings,” she said.