Former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh was reportedly arrested by the Hansi Police in Haryana on Saturday in a case lodged against him for using a casteist slur against spinner YuzvendraChahal.
According to reports, Yuvraj was interrogated for three hours before being released on interim bail. "Yuvraj Singh was arrested under section 153A and section 505 of the IndianPenal Code," it said.
The case:
The castist remarks were made in 2020 by Yuvraj after which he came under heat, facing outrage from social media. In June 2020 Yuvraj made a derogatory remark, although jokingly, towardsChahal during an Instagram Live session with India opener Rohit Sharma.
While speaking with Sharma about 'hahal's famous Tik-Tok and Instagram videos, Yuvraj made an indecent remark, which was of casteist in nature, aiming for the RCB leggie.
Last year, Dalit activist Rajan Kalsan filed a complaint against Yuvraj Singh for allegedly using a "casteist slur" to refer to Chahal. The cricketer's comments, accordingto the complaint filed in 2020, were intended to degrade and defame the Dalit community.
The complainant also claimed that the remarks were intended to provoke the community in order to incite unrest and hurt the country's social sentiments. The written complaint toHisar police read, "I request you to press appropriate charges against Yuvraj Singh and arrest him."
Punjab and Haryana HC grants interim bail to Yuvraj
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered the Haryana Police to release former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh on bail if he is arrested while cooperating with the investigation intocasteist remarks.
"We simply made a formal arrest, and he was released on bail in accordance with the Punjab and Haryana High Court's orders," Superintendent of Police (Hansi) Nitika Gahlautsaid.
Yuvraj has filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking to have a first information report (FIR) against him quashed under the IPC and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Acts, basedon a complaint by lawyer Rajat Kalsan.
Yuvraj’s apology
Following public outrage on social media in June 2020 for his casteist comments, the former India cricketer had posted a message on Twitter.
His statement read:
“This is to clarify that I have never believed in any kind of disparity, be it on the basis of caste, colour, creed or gender. I have given and continue to spend my life for thewelfare of people."
“I understand that while I was having a conversation with my friends, I was misunderstood, which was unwarranted. However, as a responsible Indian I want to say that if I haveunintentionally hurt anybody’s sentiments or feelings, I would like to express regret for the same."