Times Now's Navika Kumar Booked Over Nupur Sharma's Prophet Remarks Row

The FIR, which was lodged after a complaint by a Muslim cleric in Maharashtra, also names Nupur Sharma.

Navika Kumar.

(Photo: Twitter/Navika Kumar)

Weeks after the then Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Nupur Sharma made offensive remarks against prophet Muhammad on her show, Times Now news anchor Navika Kumar was named in a First Information Report (FIR) for allegedly intending to outrage religious sentiments (Section 295 A of the Indian Penal Code).

The FIR, which was lodged after a complaint by a Muslim cleric in Maharashtra, also names Sharma, Newslaundry reported.

The channel had earlier tried to distance itself from Sharma's remarks, saying, "We urge participants on our debates to maintain restraint and not indulge in unparliamentary language against fellow panelists."

A clip from the debate had been shared by Alt News co-founder Mohammad Zubair.

Sharma had been suspended by the BJP on 5 June following criticism by several West Asian countries for her remarks against the Prophet.

She had also said that she had been receiving death threats over her remarks. At the time, Kumar had come to Sharma's defence, saying, "Nobody has the right to threaten anyone. Death threats to Nupur Sharma (are) unacceptable. As a mature democracy debate is essential but crossing the line (is) not ok for anyone."

Sharma was also charged under Sections 295A (acts intended to outrage religious feelings), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups) and 505B IPC (inducing to commit an offence against the State or against the public tranquility) after a complaint was filed by Raza Academy, an organisation of Indian Sunni Muslims.

(With inputs from Newslaundry.)