All five were booked under sections 147 (rioting), 504 (intentional insult with the intent to provoke breach of peace), 506 (criminal intimidation), 427 (mischief causing damage to property) and 436 (mischief by fire, explosive with intent to destroy house etc) of the Indian Penal Code.

On July 16, Subodh Srivastava, congress spokesperson, filed a criminal complaint against Jitendra Singh, BSP legislator from Bikapur in Faizabad district, accusing him of leading the mob that set Joshi's house on fire.

'He had his face covered and along with over a dozen masked men ransacked Joshi's house and set three vehicles and the house on fire. He also gave bytes to some news channels after the attack and even took responsibility,' Srivastava said.