Police have booked Kerala BJP president P.S. Sreedharan Pillai for promoting communal enmity by making derogatory comments against Muslims.

Based on a complaint filed by CPM leader V. Sivankutty, the police have booked Pillai under IPC Sections 153 (wantonly saying something that could cause a riot) and 153A (promoting disharmony between different religious groups).

The charges carry a maximum punishment of five years in jail, often with a fine.

Sivankutty, the CPM parliamentary party convener of Attingal, had also lodged a complaint with the chief electoral officer of Kerala.

Malayalam TV channels had broadcast a video clip showing Pillai making the derogatory comments against Muslims, citing a religious practice.

He made the offensive remarks on April 13 during the launch of a manifesto for the BJP candidate for the Attingal Lok Sabha constituency near state capital Thiruvananthapuram.

While attacking the Congress and the Left parties for seeking evidence of the Balakot air strikes, Pillai had been heard saying in the clip: “(Congress president) Rahul Gandhi, (CPM general secretary) Sitaram Yechury and (Kerala chief minister) Pinarayi Vijayan wanted to know the religion and caste of the terrorists our armed forces killed in Balakot even after our forces returned after the mission.

“There are some signs for Muslims. But that can be seen after removing the clothes.”

Asked about the police case on him, Pillai told reporters on Thursday: “I have nothing to say about the case.”

The Congress had earlier threatened to file a case if Pillai didn’t apologise.

Soon after the Left Democratic Front raised the matter, Pillai had denied making any offensive comments against Muslims.