Man arrested for refusal to take groceries from a Muslim delivery man in Maharashtra

Correspondent

NewsBits.in

MUMBAI/THANE: A man has been arrested for allegedly refusing to take groceries from the delivery man because of the latter's religion. 

According to police, Gajanan Chaturvedi, 51, had ordered groceries online but when the delivery man reached his residential society, Chaturvedi refused to take goods after he came to know that the delivery man was a Muslim. 

Chaturvedi and his wife had come outside the gate of the society, to collect the groceries. However, he asked the delivery man's name. When he came to know about the person's religious identity, he refused to take the groceries home, though his wife was willing to take the goods.

Shocked, the delivery man, Barkat Patel, took out his cell phone and recorded the conversation. 'You are not taking it because I am a Muslim', he asked, and Chaturvedi again gave the same reply. The incident had occurred in Thane on Tuesday. Patel lodged a formal complaint with the police, later.

Acting on the basis of this complaint, the police registered a case under section 295 (A) of the Indian Penal Code for hurting sentiments. Patel told media persons that he was shocked and felt humiliated. Hence, he lodged the FIR.

He said that he had been wearing gloves and customers generally understand how tough it is for delivery persons in these times to go out and despite risk, perform the important task of deliving goods. The police officials told media persons that a probe was initiated on the basis of the complaint, subsequently FIR was registered and Chaturvedi was arrested.