The Hyderabad police have filed charges against well-known Mumbai-based motivational speaker Munawar Zama and two others for allegedly inciting religious hatred following the recent vandalism at the Muthyalamma temple in Kummariguda, Secunderabad. The other accused, Abdul Rasheed Basheer Ahmed and Rehman, the manager and proprietor of Metropolis Hotel in Regimental Bazaar, allegedly assisted Zama in organizing a workshop that encouraged enmity against Hindus.
Zama, a motivational speaker and the founder of English House Academy, organized a month-long personality development workshop at the hotel, attracting 151 participants from across India. Police allege that under the guise of teaching skills such as functional grammar, communication, public speaking, confidence building, and character development, Zama and his associates fostered an environment of hatred towards Hindus. The investigation revealed that Zama used the workshop to incite violence and hostility between religious communities.
The incident came to light after Salman Salim Thakur, one of the attendees in the workshop, stormed into the Muthyalamma temple on 14 October 2024 and vandalized the idol of Goddess Durga. According to the police, Salman, who was radicalized by watching videos of Islamic preachers, including fugitive Zakir Naik, was arrested on 16 October 2024. Locals caught Salman in the act, beat him up, and handed him over to the authorities. He is currently receiving treatment in a city hospital.
Zama, who has a strong social media presence with over 3.63 million subscribers on YouTube and millions of followers on Instagram and Facebook, has been accused of directly provoking Salman to commit the act of vandalism. The workshop, held at the Metropolis Hotel, was reportedly organized without official permission, and the hotel’s 49 rooms were reserved entirely for the event’s attendees.
L. Suresh, sub-inspector of Gopalapuram police station, stated that Zama directly incited Salman to carry out the temple attack. Additionally, police are now scrutinizing recordings of the workshop, materials distributed to participants, and the backgrounds of those involved.
The police initiated suo motu action against Zama, Basheer, and Rehman, booking them under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Sections 299 (deliberate insult or outrage of religious feelings), 192 (malicious provocation with intent to incite riots), 196 (promoting enmity between groups on religious grounds), 223 (disobeying public servant orders), and 49 (abetment to commit a crime).
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities continuing to verify the involvement of other participants and further examine the content shared during the workshop.
Police arrested Jihaadi trainer disguised as ‘motivational speaker’ Munawar Zama and two hotel owners in connection with the October 14 vandalism at #MuthyalammaTemple, Secunderabad.
Salman, a student of Zaman’s ‘Personality Development Academy’, was caught after desecrating… pic.twitter.com/UgR5LZO1eb
— Tathvam-asi (@ssaratht) October 21, 2024
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