Vadodara:

A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered here against unidentified persons for giving death threats to a city-based fashion designer who is facing a criminal case after performing yoga at the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar on June 21.

Releasing a fresh video statement, designer and social media influencer Archana Makwana also said she had done nothing wrong and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) should withdraw its complaint against her for allegedly hurting religious sentiments. Based on her complaint about threats, an FIR under Indian Penal Code Section 507 (criminal intimidation by anonymous communication) was registered at Karelibaug police station on Wednesday night, an official said.

As the police categorised it as ‘sensitive’, the FIR could not be accessed by the general public on the state home department’s website.

“She claimed that unknown persons gave her death threats through email, WhatsApp, and Instagram after photos showing her doing’shirsasan’ (head-stand) at Golden Temple went viral. No suspect has been named in the FIR,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police Panna Momaya.

Makwana visited the Golden Temple on June 21, the International Day of Yoga, and performed yoga on its ‘parikrama’ path. The photos of her act soon went viral.

Two days later, the SGPC filed a complaint against her for allegedly hurting religious sentiments, and an FIR was registered against her under relevant sections by Punjab Police.

Makwana then apologised through a video, saying she never intended to hurt anyone’s religious sentiments.

On June 24, Vadodara police provided her protection as she started receiving death threats.

In her latest video released on social media platforms, Makwana asked the SGPC to withdraw the complaint against her.

“Thousands of Sikh devotees were there when I performed yoga. Even the person who clicked my photos was a Sikh, and the Sevadars (office-bearers) of the temple did not stop him. The feelings of those who were present there and watched me do yoga did not get hurt. So I believe that I have not done anything wrong,” she said in the video.

The trouble started when some people outside India made her photos viral, saying that the people’s sentiments were hurt by her act, Makwana said.

“My intention was not bad. The FIR filed against me by the SGPC is baseless. It was not written anywhere in the temple that such acts were not allowed. I went there for the first time. Had I been told, I would have deleted those photos right away. I want the SGPC to withdraw its FIR, or else I and my legal team are ready to fight this case,” she added.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Amritsar:

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on Saturday filed a police complaint against a woman Instagram influencer for doing yoga at Sri Darbar Sahib, also known as the Golden Temple Amritsar, here.

The incident sparked outrage among the Sikh community.

Also, the SGPC has taken action against three ‘sewadars’ or employees for duty dereliction in the Darbar Sahib ‘Parikrama’ by allowing the woman to do yoga exercises in the morning of June 21 that is observed as International Day of Yoga.

A marble walkway is known as the ‘Parikrama’ where pilgrims can take a circumambulation, offering prayers and paying their respects.

SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami said some people deliberately ignore the sanctity of the holy place. He said Sikh sentiments have been hurt by the act of the woman.

He appealed to the ‘sangat’ that Sachkhand Sri Harmandir Sahib has great respect in the entire Sikh community and at the same time pilgrims, belonging to every religion and country, come here to pay obeisance with reverence.

An inquiry committee, constituted by the SGPC, questioned the ‘sewadars’ for dereliction of duty.

Pictures of Instagram influencer, Archana Makwana, while performing yoga went viral.

Amid the uproar, she has issued a public apology, expressing regret.

Golden Temple General Manager Bhagwant Singh Dhangera said Archana Makwana had posted her photos on her social media account.

“After verifying through the CCTV cameras, it was found that she performed yoga exercises at 7.04 a.m. after entering the premises at 6.57 a.m. She spent almost an hour in the ‘Parikrama’ but she had not paid a reverence during her stay,” he added.

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) is considered the ‘Mini Parliament’ of the religion.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)