Gym trainer Deepak Kumar, who became a social media sensation after defending a Muslim shopkeeper in Uttarakhand’s Kotdwar, met Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Monday.
During the meeting, Rahul Gandhi told Deepak that he would take membership of his gym.
Deepak Kumar, now popularly referred to as “Mohammad Deepak”, had stepped in to defend a 70-year-old shopkeeper who was allegedly being harassed by Bajrang Dal activists over the name of his shop, ‘Baba School Dress and Matching Centre’, on January 26.
A video showing Deepak confronting the activists went viral on social media. The activists had claimed that the word “Baba” insulted a local deity. During the heated exchange, Deepak sarcastically introduced himself as “Mohammad Deepak” — a clip that quickly spread online.
“Rahul Gandhi ji had called me here today. He spoke to my wife and family and assured me that what I did was right and that I should not be afraid. He also said that he would visit Kotdwar and take membership of my gym. It will be a matter of great happiness for me if he comes,” Deepak said after the meeting.
“Today, the situation in Kotdwar is better than before. Rahul ji also introduced me to Sonia Gandhi. I have nothing to do with politics. It feels good that someone understands that I raised my voice for humanity,” he added.
There were reports that Deepak’s gym witnessed a sharp drop in membership following the incident.
Earlier this month, Uttarakhand Police registered an FIR against a man for allegedly announcing a ₹2 lakh reward for killing Deepak. The case was filed under Section 351(3) (threat to cause death or grievous hurt) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) based on Deepak’s complaint.
In his complaint, Deepak said he came across a video on social media in which a person was seen threatening him and announcing the cash reward. He stated that he and his family were living in fear due to the death threat and that the video was circulating widely on Facebook, X and Instagram. (Agency)
