Social media influencer Hindustani Bhau remanded to police custody

Mumbai: Social media influencer Vikas Fhatak, also known as ‘Hindustani Bhau’ has been sent to police custody by the court till February 4. “We have tendered an unconditional apology in court. Our cause was right, we had come to support the students. Unfortunately, it was misused and it turned into a riot. We will cooperate […]

Mumbai: Social media influencer Vikas Fhatak, also known as ‘Hindustani Bhau’ has been sent to police custody by the court till February 4.

“We have tendered an unconditional apology in court. Our cause was right, we had come to support the students. Unfortunately, it was misused and it turned into a riot. We will cooperate in the police investigation,” Mahesh Mulya, Advocate of Vikas Pathak alias Hindustani Bhau told the reporters.

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Earlier on Tuesday, Dharavi Police arrested two people including Fhatak, for allegedly instigating students to protest to demand online exams for classes 10th and 12th in view of COVID-19.

The second accused who was arrested has been identified as Iqrar Khan Vakhar Khan.
In a video posted by ‘Hindustani Bhau’ earlier, he allegedly asked the students to assemble in the Dharavi area near the residence of Maharashtra education minister Varsha Gaikwad to protest.

In the video, he could be heard saying, “Many deaths took place due to COVID-19. People have not come out of its fear, now the Omicron variant has come. The government itself is saying to stay at home and take precautions.” He had said that the professors are also holding meetings via online mode, so why the risk is being taken with children’s health by taking offline exams.

“I would like to request you (government) to cancel the offline exams. If not then, my students and I would take to protest at the doorstep of the Varsha Gaikwad. I won’t stop until they get justice…,” Bhau had said in the video.

After the video went viral, students had staged a protest outside State School Education Minster Professor Varsha Eknath Gaikwad’s residence in Maharashtra’s Mumbai, against offline exams.

The protesting students had demanded online exams for classes 10 and 12 in view of the COVID-19 situation.

Following which, an FIR was registered against Fhatak and Khand under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code.