Dasna priest Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati has been booked for assaulting a group of journalists, Hindustan Times reported. This came a day after he was arrested for his hate speech at an event in Haridwar last month and for derogatory remarks against women.

Speaking to Hindustan Times, station house officer of Haridwar Kotwali police station, Rakendra Kathait, said, “The seer was booked on the basis of a complaint by a Delhi-based journalist, Vineet Khare, who alleged that he and two of his colleagues were assaulted by the seer and his followers during an interview. The journalist also alleged that he and his colleagues were threatened with dire consequences.”

Narsinghanand has been booked on charges of wrongful restraint, assaulting, criminal intimidation and intentional insults under sections 341,352, 506 and 504 of the Indian Penal Code, respectively.

According to the report, Kathait also said that before Khare’s complaint, Narsinghanand had approached the police saying the journalist had “hurt his sentiments by calling him a ‘so-called seer’ during the interview”. “We are yet to register a case and are verifying his claims.”

Narsinghanand is among the five named in the FIR registered in connection with the hate speeches that took place at the ‘Dharam Sansad’ held in Haridwar between December 17 -19, 2021. Videos of the event held in Haridwar purportedly showed open calls for violence against Muslims. He has been sent to 14-day judicial custody.