The Andhra Pradesh CID on Tuesday registered a case against writer and social scientist Kancha Ilaiah, for his book 'Komatollu Samajika Smagglarlu' (Komatollu are social smugglers).
This comes after reports suggested that Andhra Pradesh DGP N Sambasiva Rao has ordered CID officials to file a case against Kancha Ilaiah following discussions between the chief minister and the DGP.
Arya Vysya organisations have been holding protests in parts of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and burning the writer's effigies, seeking a ban on his book.
The Hindu reported that the case has been registered under Section 153A IPC (Promoting enmity between different groups based on religion, place and through other means), while the DGP said that the police were studying whether there was a need to ban the book, and how to legally do so.
Kancha has defended his book, telling reporters earlier, "Social Smuggling is a phrase. It is the economic process of exploitation, which means earning in business but not investing back into society."
After receiving several threatening phone calls for days, Kancha, an academician, sought police protection earlier this month, saying that he was facing a threat to his life.
Speaking at Sundarayya Vignana Kendram in Hyderabad earlier this week, Kancha declared, “If I die, Arya Vysyas will be responsible for my death.”
Kancha said he was ready to withdraw the book, but set some conditions.
“I am ready to withdraw my book. I am even prepared to change its name as ‘Arya Vysyas Social Servants’ if the community is prepared to implement 5 % quota for the marginalised sections in their establishments,” he was quoted as saying.
Stating that Arya Vysyas were involved in 64% of India’s economy, with the brokerage business, Kancha claimed that farmer suicides would be extinct in India, if the community donated 5% of what they donate to the BJP, to farmers.
Kancha is presently the Director, Center for the Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy at Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) in Hyderabad.
IANS inputs