A police official said they have received the complaint and are looking into it. (File)
Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, today lodged a police complaint in Maharashtra's Pune city against right-wing leader Sambhaji Bhide for his alleged derogatory remarks against the Father of the Nation, an official said.
Mr Bhide, known as 'Bhide Guruji' among his followers, is accused of making offensive remarks about Mahatma Gandhi's lineage in his speech during a programme in Amravati district in the last week of July.
Following his remarks, first information reports (FIRs) were registered in Amravati and Nashik against Mr Bhide, the founder of the Shri Shiv Pratishthan Hindustan outfit.
Tushar Gandhi, along with advocate Asim Sarode and other people, visited the Deccan Gymkhana police station in Pune city today and submitted the complaint against Bhide. They sought registration of a case under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 499 (defamation), 153 (A) (promoting enmity between different groups) and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief).
Talking to reporters, Mr Gandhi said, "Mr Bhide has passed a derogatory statement not just against Bapu, but also made insulting remarks against his family. The state home minister assured a strong action, but it seems no action has been taken so far."
According to Mr Gandhi, they have sought action against Mr Bhide under the IPC sections and filed a complaint application against him.
A senior official of the Deccan police station said, "We have received the complaint application from Mr Gandhi and we are looking into it."
Mr Bhide has drawn flak for his controversial comments in the past as well. On August 7, the Navi Mumbai police had registered an FIR him following a complaint over his alleged derogatory comments against Gautam Buddha and social reformers Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and Periyar.
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