In Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh, an FIR has been filed against an imam from Bihar who was residing in a mosque. The police took action because the imam was allowed to stay without prior notification. Consequently, a case was registered on September 9 against the mosque’s head and the imam for not informing the authorities. Following this, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief and MP Asaduddin Owaisi commented on the matter, stating that the SP should read Article 19. Owaisi posted a video on social media, calling the Khandwa police’s action unconstitutional and emphasizing the importance of Article 19 of the Constitution. He questioned how allowing an imam from Bihar to stay in a mosque could be considered a crime. He directly asked the SP if Section 223 of the BNS was greater than Article 19 of the Constitution, implying that the case was filed due to the imam being Muslim and coming from outside. The police explained that the action was taken according to regulations. SP Manoj Kumar Rai clarified that it is mandatory to inform the police before accommodating external individuals. The mosque’s head, Haji Hanif Khan, and Bihar resident Akhtar Raza were charged under Section 188 (disobedience of a public servant’s order) for not informing the local police station about the imam’s stay. The SP further stated that Section 144 is in effect in the district and that it is compulsory to notify the relevant police station about external individuals. Despite this, people often fail to provide such information.
