Hazrat Muhammad book controversy: Odisha author gets justice after nine yrs

Cuttack: Justice was finally served to author Rabindra Prasad Panda, who was lodged in jail for writing a controversial book on Prophet Muhammad, after nine years long fight in Odisha.

The Orissa High Court has turned down the criminal case filed against Panda over Odia book “Hazrat Muhammad”.

Adopting a petition filed by Panda in the high court, a bench of Justice BR Sarangi quashed the case that was in the Cuttack SDJM court.

Earlier, Panda, a former OES officer, was arrested on March 14, 2008, in Kolkata for alleged inappropriate content and a picture published on the cover page of the book “Hazrat Muhammad”.

Condemning Panda for the book, persons from a particular community alleged him of hurting religious sentiment.

Police booked him under section 295-A (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings or any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of IPC following an FIR filed on basis of allegations by an organisation of Cuttack Dewan Baazar on March 11, 2008.

After his bail was rejected by Cuttack SDJM, he was sent to Choudwar jail. Later, he was granted bail and he moved the high court filing a petition against the case. Meanwhile, the publisher Bidyapuri withdrew the controversial book from the market.

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