A case has been registered at Porbandar Police Station in Gujarat against Abdul Sattar Hamdani, also known as ‘Sattar Maulana’, for allegedly hurting religious sentiments and promoting enmity among sections of the Muslim community.
Police have booked him under Sections 196(1)(a), 196(1)(b), 299, and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Separate complaints have also been filed against him in Dhoraji and Veraval.
According to the police complaint, a religious programme was organised by the Haidari Young Committee at Tajusariya Hall Jamatkhana, located behind Nagina Masjid in Porbandar, on July 20. According to the FIR, during his speech at the event, Maulana Abdul Sattar Hamdani made derogatory remarks about the Syed community, Muharram, and Tazia.
The complaint was filed by Abdur Rashid Abdul Gaffar Bukha at Porbandar Police Station. It also alleges that a video of the speech was uploaded on a YouTube channel. Police have begun examining the video and other evidence as part of the investigation.
The controversy has spread beyond Porbandar. The alleged remarks about the Syed community have triggered anger among the Kodinar Samast Syed Jamat and other members of the Muslim community. Community leaders and youths have protested against the speech.
In Kodinar, members of the Syed community gathered in large numbers and submitted a memorandum to the Police Inspector at Kodinar Police Station. They demanded a fair investigation and strict action against the accused Maulana under the relevant provisions of the BNS and the Information Technology Act.
A leader of the Syed community alleged that the accused Maulana had attempted to insult their community, which has led to widespread anger across Gujarat. He claimed that the Syed community traces its lineage to Prophet Muhammad and is considered upper caste within the Muslim community. He also said FIRs would be filed against the Maulana across the state and urged the police to take strict legal action.
The Kodinar Police Inspector accepted the memorandum and assured community leaders that the matter would be investigated fairly and impartially. Police in Porbandar and Kodinar are currently examining the video and other preliminary evidence, after which further legal action will be taken.
