Prophet row: Nupur Sharma seeks time to appear before Bhiwandi Police

Suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma, who was summoned by the Bhiwandi police on Monday over her alleged remarks against Prophet Mohammad, has sought a four-week time to appear before the police

Suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma, who was summoned by the Bhiwandi police in Maharashtra on Monday over her alleged objectionable remarks against Prophet Mohammad, has sought a four-week time to appear before the police to record her statement, a police officer said.

A Bhiwandi police officer told reporters in the evening that Sharma had sent an email through her lawyer to the Thane Police and sought a time of four weeks to appear before the police for recording her statement.

He said the department has yet to decide whether to grant Sharma the time of four weeks or issue a fresh summons to her for her appearance.

Earlier in the day, another police official had said that Sharma had been granted time and will not appear before the Bhiwandi police on Monday, but didn't specify how much time Sharma has been granted.

The Bhiwandi police in Thane district had registered a case against Sharma over her remarks about the Prophet during a TV debate, following a complaint lodged by a representative of the Raza Academy on May 30, police said.

They had also registered a case against expelled BJP functionary Naveen Kumar Jindal over his alleged controversial tweets against Prophet Mohammad and asked him to record his statement on June 15, an official earlier said.

The Bhiwandi police on Sunday detained a 19-year-old Muslim man for allegedly posting a derogatory remark on Prophet Mohammad and showing support to Nupur Sharma over her controversial comments, a senior official earlier said.

The accused was taken into custody by the police after a tense situation prevailed in the town over his viral social media post, which angered members of the Muslim community, he said.

The man has apologised, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone-II, Bhiwandi, Yogesh Chavan said on Sunday night, adding that an offence was registered against him under Indian Penal Code Section 153A (promoting disharmony, enmity or feelings of hatred between different groups).

Chavan appealed to citizens of the town not to believe in rumours and help the police in maintaining law and order.

Earlier, the Mumbra police in the Thane district had asked Sharma to appear before them on June 22 to record her statement over her remarks.

The Mumbai Police have also summoned her to record a statement on June 25 in connection with her remarks about the Prophet during a TV debate that triggered a huge controversy.

The police had asked for a video of the debate from the news channel concerned.

The BJP had on June 5 suspended its national spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled Delhi BJP media head Jindal after their alleged derogatory remarks against the Prophet led to an outrage in India and Gulf countries.