Vijay Kumar, from Mumbai, was also charged with possessing brass knuckles.

According to the former director of the federal Indian Intelligence Bureau D.C. Nath, who is also a close friend of the arrested man and a member of Patriots' Forum, Kumar was committed to the cause of protecting Indian civilization.

He told the Indian Express that Kumar was originally a resident of New Delhi who moved to Mumbai three years ago to make documentaries on illegal Bangladeshi immigrants and the change in demographics.

He had an interest in the real estate business and had tried his luck as a real estate consultant both in New Delhi and Mumbai, said Nath, adding that what kept Kumar busy was his documentary work on human rights, gender injustice and illegal migration.

Navin Chaumal, another friend of Kumar, confirmed that he was once associated with the RSS and that he had been planning a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on Bangladeshi migrants and was researching the subject.

US criminal defense attorney Grant Scheiner confirmed to the Indian Express that Kumar was arrested in connection with possessing the brass knuckles and extremist literature.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan reiterated again on Friday that the state government would bring in a law stipulating stringent punishments for attacks on journalists.

"The government has taken seriously the attack on a reporter from Zee News by a mob at Dadar suburb on Tuesday, which led to the man sustaining serious injuries and being admitted to a government hospital,” he said.

“A possible law protecting journalists and preventing attacks on them would be examined next Wednesday during the weekly cabinet meeting for approval.”

Earlier on Thursday, journalists had demonstrated outside Chavan’s house in protest of the attack.

A delegation from the protestors that met Chavan demanded that the government bring in legislation to prevent attacks on media professionals in the future.

The journalists also claimed that there had been a number of false cases brought against reporters by police.

Home Minister R.R. Patil Patil, who was also present at the meeting, ordered Mumbai police commissioner Sanjiv Dayal to investigate the complaints.