Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Dec 25: Delhi Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Saurabh Bharadwaj and two other party leaders have been booked for allegedly hurting the religious sentiments of the Christian community through the depiction of Santa Claus in a political video on the city’s air pollution, police said on Thursday.

According to officials, AAP leaders Sanjay Jha and Adil Ahmed have also been named in the FIR, which was registered over a video shared on social media on December 17 and 18. The clip reportedly showed a person dressed as Santa Claus wearing a gas mask and portrayed as collapsing, a visual that sparked objections from members of the Christian community.

The leaders have been booked under Section 302 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), which deals with acts intended to wound religious feelings and carries a punishment of up to one year in jail, a fine, or both.

The case was filed following a complaint by advocate Kushboo George, who alleged that the portrayal of Santa Claus was derogatory and deliberately offensive. She stated that the video was part of a political skit filmed in the Connaught Place area of central Delhi.

In her complaint, George argued that using Santa Claus as a prop and depicting him as fainting on the road amounted to mocking the sanctity of Saint Nicholas and the festival of Christmas. She further claimed that the act was intentional and malicious, especially as it was carried out during the Advent season leading up to Christmas.

The controversy has also drawn political reactions, with Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva earlier criticising the AAP leaders for the video and demanding a public apology.

Police said further investigation into the matter is underway.