Jayant Gautam, son of former Congress MP A P Gautam, was arrested and later released in connection with controversial billboards put up along the highway in Uttar Pradesh’s Hydergarh district that depicted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath raising issues including Ram temple donation, paper leakage and inflation, officials said on Tuesday.
The billboards, which were installed at several locations between Bara Toll Plaza and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Hydergarh district, have attracted widespread attention.
The hoardings contain images of Modi and Adityanath with tape over their mouths, and raise questions about issues such as the alleged theft of offerings at the Ram temple in Ayodhya, inflation, unemployment and incidents of paper leakage. It also has a picture of Jayant Gautam at the bottom.
Rajesh Vishwakarma, Hydergarh sub-district magistrate, said the plates were inappropriate and an FIR would be registered in the matter.
According to the police, the paintings were put up by Jayant Gautam. He was detained and interrogated at Hydergarh police station late at night before being released.
His release came after Congress Barabanki MP Tanuj Punia and Congress district chief Mohsin intervened at the police station.
Sangam Kumar, department official, said they are trying to ascertain whether permission has been obtained from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) before installing the hoardings and determining the purpose of their display.
Superintendent of Police Arpit Vijayvargiya has requested a report in this matter, officials said.
The administration took action after BJP workers filed a complaint objecting to the filming of the chief minister and chief minister with tape over their mouths.
The billboards have become a talking point in the area, with motorists slowing down on the highway to read the messages.
Pictures of the exhibits were also shared widely on social media.
