Cricketer Hardik Pandya clarifies on Ambedkar tweet

Indian cricket Hardik Pandya issued an official statement on Wednesday after a local Rajasthan court directed Jodhpur police to file an FIR over a derogatory tweet on Bhimrao Ambedkar.

In his tweet, Hardik Pandya said: "I would like to take this opportunity to clarify that no such tweet and/or statement, whether on Twitter or any other form of media has been issued by me. The tweet in question was posted by a fake account using my name and display image."

"I use only my verified twitter handle to make official communications via Twitter and the said tweet was posted by a spurious account, pretending to be me," the statement added.

The official statement further said: "I have the utmost respect for Dr BR Ambedkar, the Indian Consitution and the many communities that call India their home and I would not indulge in making any kind of statement which is derogatory and /or which insults the sentiments of any community. I use social media to interact with my fans and I believe that in this age of social media must be vigilant of misinformation and act responsibly."

Fake account of Hardik Pandya on Twitter with account handle @sirhardik3777 had tweeted “Kaun ambedkar???? Wahi jisne dogla kanoon aur sanvidhan banaya ya wo jisne #aarakshan naam ki bimari desh mein failai #HegdeInsultsAmbedkar #TuedayThoughts”.

However, the tweet was published in December but it started doing the rounds on social media through a screenshot posted in a WhatsApp group in January.

Offended by the tweet an advocate in Rajasthan moved court for action against the cricketer.

The account from which derogatory comment was tweeted seems to have been deleted or deactivated as it is no longer available.