In a major development ahead of April 11 Lok Sabha polls, People’s Republican Party (PRP) leader Jaideep Kawade was on Wednesday arrested for allegedly making indecent remarks against Union minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani, police said.
Kawade was later released on bail. The PRP is an ally of the Congress in Maharashtra. The party is headed by Dalit leader and MLC Jogendra Kawade, the father of Jaideep.
According to police, Kawade had made objectionable remarks against Irani while addressing an election rally in Nagpur on Monday.
A video of his speech had gone viral on social media. It can be mentioned here that Kawade had made the remarks in the context of Irani wearing a big ‘bindi’ (a coloured dot) on her forehead.
Election officer Madan Subhedar had lodged a complaint against him.
An offence under IPC sections 295 (A) (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings or any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), 500 (defamation), 294 (obscene acts and songs) and 171 (G) (false statement in connection with an election), was registered against Kawade at Lakadganj police station.
Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) workers had Tuesday filed a complaint with returning officer of Nagpur Lok Sabha constituency against Kawade.
