Mumbai: FIR against Nitesh Rane for using 'Dalit' word in TV interview

File pic/Sameer Markande

The Navi Mumbai police have registered an FIR against MLA Nitesh Rane for allegedly using the word 'Dalit' while speaking in a TV interview.

A complaint against the Kankavli-based BJP MLA and son of Narayan Rane was lodged by a lawyer last week.

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"The complainant came across a video of Nitesh Rane's interview with a regional news channel on YouTube in which he used the word 'Dalit', whose usage is prohibited by the Centre government on August 7, 2018," the FIR stated.

According to the police, the case was registered under sections 153 A (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence), 153 B (Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration), and 295 A (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of the Indian Penal Code.

Police have also invoked provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities ) Act.

"The offence was registered on orders of the court," the police official said.

"Further investigation is underway," the official added.

(with inputs from PTI)