Mohammad Deepak arrested for ‘assaulting’ a businessman in Uttarakhand

Deepak Kumar or Mohammad Deepak, a gym owner from Uttarakhand. File | Photo credit: Shashi Shekhar Kashyap

A gym owner from Pauri Garhwal’s Kotdwar, Deepak Kumar, who shot into the limelight for confronting Bajrang Dal members harassing a Muslim shopkeeper earlier this year, was arrested on Thursday (Oct 1, 2026) for allegedly abusing, assaulting and threatening the shopkeeper, police said.

Police said the arrest was made as a precautionary measure amid fears of a breach of the peace.

According to the police, Deepak was arrested in the evening after investigating a complaint filed by businessman Sanjeev Tonk at the Kotdwar Kotwali police station.

Mr. Tonk alleged that Deepak was rude to him, used foul language and threatened to kill him, police said.

Initially, a case was registered against Deepak under Sections 351(2) (criminal intimidation) and 352 (intentional insult with intent to cause breach of peace) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and an investigation was initiated.

During the investigation, the police said that sections 196 (promoting enmity or disturbance of harmony between different groups on the basis of religion, caste or language) and 115 (voluntarily causing bodily harm) of the BNS were also added based on CCTV footage, photographs and other evidence.

The police said that the investigation revealed a prima facie case of Deepak abusing the complainant and threatening to kill him.

Considering the evidence and apprehension of breach of law and order, Deepak was arrested under Section 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which provides for preventive arrest to stop the commission of a cognizable offence, police said.

As part of the security measures, the police also conducted a flag march in the Kotdwar Municipal Corporation area late on Thursday (October 1, 2026).

Deepak made headlines in January after he intervened when some people protested the use of the word “Baba” in the name of an elderly Muslim businessman’s business in Kotdwar.

During the altercation with the protesters, Deepak identified himself as ‘Mohammad Deepak’. A video of the incident subsequently spread on social media, after which he became known by name, police said.

Published – 02 Oct 2026 11:44 IST