The boy’s parents have been charged under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 196 (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion), 197 (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration) and 3 (5) (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention).THE PARENTS of the 15-year-old boy who were arrested after police said they received a complaint alleging that the boy raised “anti-national” slogans during the India-Pakistan cricket match on February 23, were granted bail by a local court in Malvan in Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district on Tuesday. The civic authorities had also demolished the scrap shop run by the family, claiming it lacked required permission.While police had sought the couple’s custody for investigation, the court refused the plea and granted them bail with conditions, including that they cannot leave the state without permission from the court, that they must cooperate with the probe and remain present before the local police once a week till the chargesheet is filed. However, the couple was not released till late Wednesday, as the bail formalities were yet to be completed. The boy, who was taken to an Observation Home, was handed over to his uncle on Monday.In the remand application before the court, police said that the complaint was filed by Malvan resident Sachin Varadkar (35). Varadkar told The Indian Express that he works as a labourer and said that he is a Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) worker.Speaking to The Indian Express, Varadkar said that on Sunday around 9.15pm, he was travelling on his bike to a friend’s place when he heard a group of young boys, among whom a 15-year-old boy shouted an “anti-India” slogan, before running away. Varadkar said that when he was passing by again from the area while on his way home, he saw the boy cycling and went to his house.When asked about the incident, Varadkar claimed that the parents of the boy began abusing him, raising “anti-national” slogans. “Then I called my cousin, who came there. The couple continued to be abusive, when I called VHP workers. I have been a VHP member for 7-8 months. Around 50-60 persons, including local residents, then reached the house when the couple continued to remain aggressive. The woman even came to attack us with a chair,” Varadkar told The Indian Express.An FIR was filed on the complaint of Varadkar the next day by the Malvan police. The 15-year-old was apprehended and sent to an Observation Home and the couple was arrested and produced before the court.Police said the family was originally from Uttar Pradesh and have been living in the area for over a decade, doing scrap business. While seeking their custody, police said that they want to verify the documents submitted by them and investigate if there was the involvement of anyone else in the offence.Story continues below this adThe couple was initially produced before the court on Monday but as there was no legal representation for them, they were remanded in judicial custody. Malvan Bar Association president Satishkumar Dhamalurkar said that no resolution was passed denying legal defence to the two. Of the three legal aid lawyers, one was not in the city, while another one cited personal reasons and the third one was busy in another court, due to which the court directed them to be produced on Tuesday.Legal aid lawyer for the couple, Akshay Samant, submitted to the court on Tuesday that since there was no recovery to be made from the accused, their custody was not needed. He also submitted that police can verify the documents submitted by the couple by approaching the department concerned. He also raised the point that police should have been approached immediately when the incident took place.The court took these into consideration and refused police custody of the couple. The lawyer then sought bail on their behalf that was granted by the court with conditions.The boy’s parents have been charged under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 196 (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion), 197 (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration) and 3 (5) (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention). © The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:Mumbai