KRK Arrested: Actor-turned-film critic sent to 14-day judicial custody for controversial tweet on Rishi Kapoor

Bollywood Actor and critic Kamal Rashid Khan was sent to 14-day judicial custody by Borivali Court on Tuesday. He immediately applied for a bail the same day but the hearing was adjourned and will be heard on 2 September.

The actor and film critic Kamal Rashid Khan is popularly known as KRK, and was arrested by the Malad police in connection with an alleged defamatory tweet posted by him, an official from Malad police said on Tuesday.

Khan was arrested from the Mumbai airport late on Monday night after he arrived from Dubai.

Khan, 47, who was also seen in 'Bigg Boss 3', was detained after he came from a flight and questioned before he was formally arrested for the tweets against various prominent personalities which had kicked up a row.

During his remand application on Tuesday, the police argued that the details of his tweets on social media which are posted by him sitting in a foreign country have the potential of escalating communal violence in India.

“We have received 14-day judicial custody of the accused, the investigation will continue. The accused tried applying for a bail but it is pending in court,” said DCP zone 11, Vishal Thakur.

After the police received the judicial custody, Khan applied for bail stating that whatever has been alleged against him regarding Twitter is nothing else but his comments in respect of and has nothing to do with any such offence alleged to have been committed.

However, the court adjourned his hearing and gave him the date of the next hearing which will be on 2 September.

Following the social media attacks on the late actors Irrfan Khan and Rishi Kapoor, who both passed away in April 2020, Yuva Sena leader Rahul Kanal lodged a written complaint against Khan.

Regarding the arrest, Rahul Kanal said that Kamal Khan is known for making derogatory comments and using foul language on social media. “Such behaviour is unacceptable to society and by nabbing him the Mumbai Police have issued a stern message against such persons," Kanal said.

Kanal had lodged his complaint with the then Deputy Commissioner of Police (IX) on April 30, 2020, pointing out how Khan’s Twitter account had been suspended twice for tarnishing the image of respected personalities and demanded action against the actor.

Khan has been booked under various sections of the India Penal Code including section 500 (defamation).