Mumbai: A housing society in Mumbai has backtracked on an initial decision of not allowing a Muslim man to own a flat after police arrested nine members of the managing committee on charges of insulting his religious feelings.
The complainant Vikar Ahmed Khan, a 35-year-old shop owner, had initially approached the present owner last week to buy the flat at Manikpur in Vasai. The owner was ready to sell the flat, but said a no objection certificate was needed from the managing committee of the society.
Police said that when the owner approached the managing committee - comprising other flat owners - he was told he should not sell it to a Muslim family.
Khan then approached the Manikpur police station on September 17 and lodged a complaint, following which ten people were booked under section 295A of the IPC which deals with deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings.
Nine of the accused were arrested on Monday and later let off on bail while the tenth person who had gone out of station was yet to be arrested, police said.
"We will take necessary action against the tenth accused too," said an official investigating the case.
The office bearers of the housing society then met and decided to issue a no objection certificate to Khan for buying the flat.
"After the arrests, the society members have now decided to give an NOC. They said they will give it after following due process" said inspector Anil Patil of the Manikpur police station, adding that two Muslim families already stay in the same building.
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