Bengaluru: Sapna Book House was yesterday, raided by the Upparpete police. Copies of the banned book ‘Valmiki Yaaru’ (Who is Valmiki?), written by K.S. Narayanacharya, were seized and the owners were booked. During the raid, 45 copies of the book were seized.
Dr. Suresh, a lecturer in a college in Tumakuru, had purchased the book in an outlet of Sapna Book House at Gandhi Nagar, and complained to the police along with the receipt. His complaint was registered under sections 153(a) and 295(a) of IPC.
Sapna Book House owner Nitin Shah questioned the registration of the case and the raid. He averred that the they are not the publishers of the book , which he said, was published by the Sahitya Prakashana of Hubli. He also asserted that neither the state government, nor the publisher had intimated them regarding the ban.
‘Valmiki Yaaru’ had created controversy in July when it claimed that Valmiki, the author of Ramayana, was not born into the Beda community, but was a Brahmin by birth. This assertion by the author, created a ruckus in the Legislative Council and the book was banned on the grounds that it contained material hurting the sentiments of a community.
MLC V.S. Ugrappa had raised the issue, and his contentions received the support of all the members. They said that it amounted to “misuse of the freedom of expression”. The Minister for Women and Child Welfare, Umashree had then announced a ban on the book.