Suchitra Krishnamoorthi azaan row: 4 booked for sexually abusive tweets

The Mumbai police has booked four people for sending sexually abusive tweets to actress Suchitra Krishnamoorthi for her comments against the use of loudspeakers for azaan. Suchitra had lodged a complaint yesterday at the DN Nagar police station in Andheri (West) in suburban Mumbai after receiving such comments in large numbers. 

A police officer told a publication, “Based on her complaint, police registered a case under IPC sections 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) and 67(A) (punishment for publishing or transmitting of material containing sexually explicit act), against four persons.” 

It all started after Suchitra wrote a series of tweets against the loud azaan at odd hours, earlier this week. Her first tweet came early morning on 23 July: “came home at 4.45 am 2 most aggressive/ ear shattering call of azaan. Nothing more lowlife & dumb than such extreme imposed religiousity,” she said. 

Later in the day, a senior journalist taunted her by highlighting how Hindus wake up to Brahmamuhurta, which is the same as azaan. To this she wrote, “i wake up at Brahmamuhurt of my own accord & do my prayers & riyaz.& yoga. I don't need public loudspeakers to remind me of my God or my duty.” 

When another user pointed to the sound of puja from a temple, she responded with, “nobody objects to azaan or prayers during decent hours. But to be waking up entire neighbourhood at 5 am is not civilized.”

Suchitra received support from actress Renuka Shahane who tweeted, "Disgusting! Hope you've made a police complaint @suchitrak These abusive trolls need to be put firmly behind bars! With you in solidarity."

Earlier this year, singer Sonu Nigam had also received severe flak for speaking out against the use of loudspeakers for azaan.