The Kerala Police on Friday booked former Director General of Police TP Senkumar under a non-bailable section of the Indian Penal Code for allegedly making derogatory remarks against a minority community, The Indian Express reported. In an interview to an online publication Samakaalika Malayalam, Senkumar had said the rising birthrate among Muslims in Kerala would alter the state’s demographics and blamed the rising cases to “love jihad”, CNN News-18 reported.

A case has also been registered against the publication, reported The New Indian Express. Senkumar, however, denied giving any interview to the weekly, reported The Hindu.

The police took action after receiving half a dozen complaints against Senkumar from various Muslim organisations. The government, too, had received a set of complaints against Senkumar in this regard.

Earlier, the police had sought legal opinion from the Director General of Prosecution on whether a case could be registered against Senkumar.

Senkumar, who retired last week, had also been invited to join the Bharatiya Janata Party, reported The Indian Express.