Shopkeeper held for selling shoes pinned with Zoroastrian symbol

The Tardeo police have arrested the owner of a footwear showroomfor hurting the sentiments of the Parsi community by allegedly selling shoes with a religious symbol pinned on them.

The shoes in Deepak Bhansali's shop pinned with the Asho Farohar symbol

On Wednesday, 10-15 people visited Heera Panna Mall. Khorshed Meherjee, who was part of the group, tried to convince Deepak Bhansali, the shop owner, that he would hurt the sentiments of the Parsi community by continuing to sell the shoes, but Bhansali tried to justify their sale, saying he had only imported the shoes. Following this, the group approached the Tardeo police andfiled a complaint against Bhansali.

Meherjee says she came to know about the shoes from a friend. "For a week, I consulted my friends and then went there a few days ago and saw it for myself. Asho Farohar pendants were attached to shoes. I quietly clicked pictures of those shoes and asked for their shop's card and moved out. On Wednesday, a group that included corporator Sarita Patil from D Ward went to the shop," she said. "They have hurt sentiments of the Zoroastrian community. Asho Farohar actually symbolises the concept of creation. Farohar is our Guardian Angel. How can they display the symbol on shoes?" she said.

"I got the shoes removed - there were four pairs in all - and took the shopkeeper to the police. The shopkeeper blamed the distributor, but I was unable to contact him," added Meherjee.

Reacting to the incident, Mehernosh Fitter of the Save Doongerwadi Committee said, "Today, it is our religion. Tomorrow, it could be any other one. The police should take strong action against misuse of religious images."

Bhansali has been booked under section 295 (A) (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class) of the IPC. Pravin Padval, DCP, Zone 3, said, "The shopkeeper has been arrested and will be produced before a local court on Thursday."