Gym of UP man arrested for objectionable post on Ram temple donations theft sealed
Ballia authorities sealed a gym after its operator failed to show documents and fire safety compliance. The action came days after the operator's arrest over a Facebook post linked to the Ram Temple donations controversy.
The Ballia district administration has sealed a gym allegedly being run illegally by a man who was recently arrested for posting an 'objectionable' comment on Facebook over the Ram Temple donations theft row in Ayodhya, officials said on Wednesday.
City Magistrate Asharam Verma said a joint team of the administration, police and fire department inspected the gym on Garhwar Road on Tuesday. During the inspection, the operator could not produce documents related to the establishment.
The gym was later sealed after officials found that it was operating from the basement of a building and did not have mandatory fire safety equipment, Verma said.
On Sunday, a case was registered against the gym owner, Irshad Ali, 28, a resident of Parmandapur, on a complaint filed by Vivek Kumar Pathak. The complaint alleged that Ali made an objectionable Facebook post on the embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
According to the complaint, the post was aimed at creating misconceptions about the faith of millions of Ram devotees, disturbing communal harmony and spreading hatred.
Ballia Superintendent of Police Omvir Singh had earlier said Ali was arrested in connection with the case on Monday.
The embezzlement of temple donations has since turned into a major political controversy, with Opposition parties accusing the BJP and the RSS of betraying Hindus and Lord Ram, and seeking a wider probe into the matter.
The controversy began on June 7 after Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple.
On June 13, the Uttar Pradesh government set up a three-member SIT to investigate the allegations. The probe found serious lapses in the temple's donation management system, and eight men have been arrested so far in the case.
In Ballia, officials said the latest action involved sealing Ali's gym after the inspection found it was operating without the required documents and fire safety measures.
The Ballia district administration has sealed a gym allegedly being run illegally by a man who was recently arrested for posting an 'objectionable' comment on Facebook over the Ram Temple donations theft row in Ayodhya, officials said on Wednesday.
City Magistrate Asharam Verma said a joint team of the administration, police and fire department inspected the gym on Garhwar Road on Tuesday. During the inspection, the operator could not produce documents related to the establishment.
The gym was later sealed after officials found that it was operating from the basement of a building and did not have mandatory fire safety equipment, Verma said.
On Sunday, a case was registered against the gym owner, Irshad Ali, 28, a resident of Parmandapur, on a complaint filed by Vivek Kumar Pathak. The complaint alleged that Ali made an objectionable Facebook post on the embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
According to the complaint, the post was aimed at creating misconceptions about the faith of millions of Ram devotees, disturbing communal harmony and spreading hatred.
Ballia Superintendent of Police Omvir Singh had earlier said Ali was arrested in connection with the case on Monday.
The embezzlement of temple donations has since turned into a major political controversy, with Opposition parties accusing the BJP and the RSS of betraying Hindus and Lord Ram, and seeking a wider probe into the matter.
The controversy began on June 7 after Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple.
On June 13, the Uttar Pradesh government set up a three-member SIT to investigate the allegations. The probe found serious lapses in the temple's donation management system, and eight men have been arrested so far in the case.
In Ballia, officials said the latest action involved sealing Ali's gym after the inspection found it was operating without the required documents and fire safety measures.
