The Uttarakhand Police filed a criminal case on Thursday, Dec 23, over a controversial religious event held in Haridwar last week where speakers allegedly made hate speeches against minorities, and called for violence against Muslims and Christians.

The state police said a case was filed under Section 153A of the Indian Penal Code (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language) against Jitendra Narayan Tyagi, the former chief of the Uttar Pradesh Shia Waqf board who was earlier known as Waseem Rizvi, and unnamed people.

“Taking into account videos going viral on social media that show provocative and hate speeches against particular religions, a case has been filed in Kotwali Haridwar under section 153A against Waseem Rizvi, or Jitendra Narayan Tyagi, and others,” the police said.