Jitendra Tyagi (formerly Wasim Rizvi) Acquitted in Alleged Quran Insult Case

– Jitendra Narayan Tyagi (Formerly Waseem Rizvi)

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) – In a case related to the alleged insult of the Quran during the Haridwar Dharma Sansad, a Haridwar court has acquitted Jitendra Narayan Tyagi (formerly Wasim Rizvi) of all charges. Tyagi, a former chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Shia Waqf Board, had later converted to Hinduism.

1. The Dharma Sansad had been organized at Niketan Ashram in Kharkhari. Videos of speeches made during the event were widely circulated on social media, prompting accusations from the Muslim community that Jitendra Tyagi had delivered a “hate speech.”

2. A complaint in the matter was filed in December 2021 by one Nadeem Ali. A total of nine individuals were accused of hurting religious sentiments.

3. Charges were filed under Sections 153A (promoting enmity between different communities) and 298 (uttering words with deliberate intent to wound religious feelings) of the Indian Penal Code.

4. Notable figures like Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati, head of Dasna Peeth, and Suresh Chavhanke, editor of ‘Sudarshan News’ channel, were also named in the FIR related to the same case.

5. During the trial, Chief Judicial Magistrate Avinash Srivastava of the Haridwar Court stated that Tyagi was being acquitted on the basis of benefit of the doubt.

6. Tyagi had been arrested in January 2022 and was granted bail in May 2022.