Prof Ratan Lal is granted bail in Shivling remark case

Arrested the day before for an allegedly objectionable social media post about a ‘Shivling’ in Varanasi, Delhi University Associate Professor Ratan Lal was granted bail by a New Delhi court Saturday.

Arrested by the Delhi Police under sections 153A and 295A of the Indian Penal Code, Lal was charged with promoting enmity between different groups on the basis of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony.

On the basis of a complaint made by a Delhi-based lawyer, a FIR was filed against Lal on Tuesday night.

Lal is accused of posting a “derogatory,” “inciting,” and “provocative” tweet about the Shivling in Vineet Jindal’s complaint.

In order to secure Lal’s release, the court required that he post a personal bond of Rs 50,000 and one surety of the same value.

The arrest of Lal, a professor at the Hindu College, was met with a protest on Saturday by members of the left-leaning All India Students Association (AISA).