The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Monday threatened to launch “a battle” against Delhi police if any action was taken against its activists in connection with the violence during a Hanuman Jayanti procession in Jahangirpuri.

The threat came after police said they had registered an FIR against the organisers for holding the procession without permission, and arrested a person, identified as Prem Sharma, who is a local VHP leader.

However, the statement was later withdrawn by the police, who said the Indian Penal Code’s Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) is a bailable offence and the person who had joined the investigation was let off after questioning.

The revised statement issued by the police did not name the VHP or the Bajrang Dal.

Northwest deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Usha Rangnani said an FIR had been registered against the organisers for carrying out a procession on Saturday evening in the area without permission and added that an accused had joined the investigation.

Reacting sharply to the police action, VHP national spokesperson Vinod Bansal told PTI: “We have learnt that an FIR has been registered against VHP and Bajrang Dal activists, and one of the activists has been arrested as well. They (the police) have made a big blunder.”

He rejected as “absurd” the police claim that the procession was held without permission and said it seemed the police had bowed down before “jihadis”.

Bansal said the VHP was “a law-abiding organisation”.

“The VHP will launch a battle if they try to lodge a false case or pick up any of its activists,” Bansal warned.