A first information report (FIR) was registered against Samajwadi Party (SP) district vice-president Haji Mohammad Usman in Moradabad on Friday after a video on social media showed him offering namaz at the government-run Circuit House following a party meeting, officials said on Saturday.
“During this period, a case came to light in which an SP leader who arrived to meet him offered prayers at the Circuit House.
After the meeting, Usman stepped outside and offered prayers near the lawn, according to officials. Ankit Srivastava, the Moradabad additional magistrate (City), said the district administration had received the official protocol concerning Lal Bihari Yadav and arranged for his stay at the Circuit House in accordance with the rules. The administration is taking action in the matter,” the ADM said.
A video showing him offering prayers beside a parked car surfaced on social media on Friday.
Following the controversy, Anit Kumar, PWD junior engineer, submitted a complaint at Majhola police station. If there is no such rule, strict action should be taken.” Based on the complaint, an FIR was registered under Sections 285 (danger or obstruction in public way or line of navigation) and 292 (punishment for public nuisance) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the officer said.
Usman parked his vehicle on the road leading to the Circuit House and offered prayers behind it, according to the complaint. Moradabad City SP Kumar Ranvijay Singh said the circuit house in-charge had complained that he received a video showing a person offering namaz on the premises without permission. “It was also alleged that the activity caused obstruction to traffic,” he said. Rohan Saxena, state president of the Rashtriya Bajrang Dal, said, “Is there any rule allowing a legislator’s relative to offer prayers in a government building in this manner?
