FIR against e-tailer for using ads with pictures of gods

NOIDA: An FIR has been lodged against e-commerce giant Amazon for allegedly allowing display of some products that have pictures of Hindu gods on its website. The FIR was lodged on a complaint by Bajrang Dal activists in Noida’s Sector 58 police station.

Amazon was booked under IPC 153 (a) (causing disharmony by signs or by visible representations between different religious, racial, language or regional groups or castes or communities) in the wake of the complaint by Vikas Mishra, district coordinator for Bajrang Dal, who has alleged that “Hindu sentiments are hurt” due to the pictures on the website of the company, which can result in “communal tension in the country”.

Vikas told TOI that the pictures being referred to are commodes on sale on the website which apparently have pictures of Hindu Gods.

Circle officer Piyush Singh of Sector 58 police station said the FIR had been lodged since a complaint was received and an investigation will now start.

An Amazon spokesperson said: “All sellers must follow our selling guidelines and those who do not will be subject to action, including potential removal of their account. The products in question are being removed from the store.”