The Supreme Court on Monday stayed a case against Dehradun gym owner Deepak Kumar, who had opposed the harassment of an elderly Muslim shopkeeper by alleged Bajrang Dal members in January, Live Law reported.The bench also stayed the Uttarakhand High Court’s March order restraining Kumar from commenting on social media about the case against him.It issued notice on Kumar’s petition challenging the High Court’s refusal to quash the first information report against him.The incident took place on January 26 when alleged Bajrang Dal members had come to the shop of an elderly Muslim man, Vakeel Ahmed, in Uttarakhand’s Pauri Garhwal district, objecting to him using the word “Baba” in the name of his establishment.Kumar and another person, Vijay Rawat, objected to the mob’s actions, after which the two Hindu men were asked not to intervene.The FIR against Kumar and Rawat was registered in late January based on a complaint by two persons who are members of the Bajrang Dal and the Vishva Hindu Parishad. The FIR invoked charges of rioting, causing hurt and intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace.The Bajrang Dal and the Vishva Hindu Parishad are part of a group of Hindutva outfits led by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the parent organisation of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.The members of the Hindutva groups, in their complaint, claimed that Kumar and Rawat stole their watches and money, and shouted casteist abuses at them.Subsequently, a group of about 40 persons gathered near Kumar’s gym and shouted slogans against him. The protesters also blocked a national highway.Kumar had filed a complaint against the persons who had gathered in front of his gym. However, the police had registered the case based on the complaint of an officer against unidentified persons in connection with the protests.On Monday, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Kumar, asked how a good Samaritan could be “subjected to this kind of a complaint”, Live Law reported.The incidentIn a video of the January 26 incident that was later widely shared on social media, Kumar is seen asking the group why other shops are allowed to use the word “Baba”, but Ahmed’s shop is not. He is also heard saying that the shop is more than 30 years old and asking why its name should be changed.When asked his name, Kumar replied: “My name is Mohammad Deepak.” Kumar later explained that he intended to convey that he was an Indian and that everyone is equal before the law.Kumar subsequently posted a video on social media, in which he said: “I am neither a Hindu, neither a Muslim, neither a Sikh, nor a Christian. First and foremost, I am a human being. Because after I die, I have to answer to God and to humanity, not to any religion.”He added that no one, whether a Hindu or a Muslim, should be targeted for their religion.Edited by Sneha.