Police in India have arrested a senior far-right Hindu nationalist for shooting an effigy of Mahatma Gandhi in a recreation of his assassination 71 years ago.

Pooja Pandey was described as the national secretary of Hindu Mahasabha, a fringe group that accuses Gandhi of being too moderate and each year celebrates the anniversary of his death.

In a video shot in January in the city of Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh, Ms Pandey, her husband Ashok and about a dozen other Hindu Mahasabha members wearing saffron, can be seen gathered around an effigy covered with a printed full-length image of Gandhi.

With the camera rolling, Ms Pandey aims an air pistol at the effigy and fires. The camera pans down to show fake blood pooling at the bottom of the effigy, and a later clip shows party members dousing it with fuel and setting it on fire.

The video also purportedly showed Ms Pandey garlanding a statue of Gandhi’s assassin, Nathuram Godse, a Hindu nationalist who was hanged in 1949 for murdering the independence leader.

Best photos from India's Republic Day parade Show all 20 1 /20 Best photos from India's Republic Day parade Best photos from India's Republic Day parade "Daredevils" motorcycle riders from Indian Army's Corps of Signals regiment take part in the Republic Day parade in New Delhi Reuters Best photos from India's Republic Day parade Indian school children perform during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi AFP/Getty Best photos from India's Republic Day parade India celebrated its 70th Republic Day AFP/Getty Best photos from India's Republic Day parade A tableau of the Indian of Delhi is displayed at the Rajpath EPA Best photos from India's Republic Day parade Indian Paramilitary soldiers march past Rajpath, the ceremonial boulevard AP Best photos from India's Republic Day parade Indian Air Force Jaguars, part of the Deep Penetration Strike Aircraft program, fly past Rajpath, the ceremonial boulevard, during Republic Day parade in New Delhi, India, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019. Thousands of Indians have converged on a ceremonial boulevard to watch a display of the country's military power and cultural diversity amid tight security during national day celebrations. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup) Manish Swarup AP Best photos from India's Republic Day parade Indian bollywood actor Varun Dhawan (C) along with others dancers perform during a performance related to the upcoming bollywood film 'ABCD 3' directed by Remo D'Souza, on the Republic Day celebrations at the India-Pakistan Wagah border post, some 35 kms from Amritsar on January 26, 2019. - India celebrated its 70th Republic Day. (Photo by NARINDER NANU / AFP)NARINDER NANU/AFP/Getty Images NARINDER NANU AFP/Getty Best photos from India's Republic Day parade Indian soldiers march during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi, India, January 26, 2019. REUTERS/Altaf Hussain ALTAF HUSSAIN Reuters Best photos from India's Republic Day parade An Indian army contingents marches during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi on January 26, 2019. - India celebrated its 70th Republic Day. (Photo by Money SHARMA / AFP)MONEY SHARMA/AFP/Getty Images MONEY SHARMA AFP/Getty Best photos from India's Republic Day parade Indian soldiers march during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi, India, January 26, 2019. REUTERS/Altaf Hussain ALTAF HUSSAIN Reuters Best photos from India's Republic Day parade epa07320977 Akash missiles system and troop level radar system displayed during Republic Day parade at the 70th Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi, India, 26 January 2019. The Republic Day of India marks the adoption of the constitution of India and the transition of India from a British Domination to a republic on 26 January 1950.Â EPA/HARISH TYAGI HARISH TYAGI EPA Best photos from India's Republic Day parade Indian soldiers of the President's Bodyguard stand guard on their mounts during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi on January 26, 2019. - India celebrated its 70th Republic Day. (Photo by Money SHARMA / AFP)MONEY SHARMA/AFP/Getty Images MONEY SHARMA AFP/Getty Best photos from India's Republic Day parade "Daredevils" motorcycle riders from Indian Army's Corps of Signals regiment take part in the Republic Day parade in New Delhi Reuters Best photos from India's Republic Day parade epa07320966 National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets take part in the the 70th Republic day parade in Bhopal, India, 26 January 2019. The Republic Day of India marks the adoption of the constitution of India and the transition of India from a British Domination to a republic on 26 January 1950. EPA/SANJEEV GUPTA SANJEEV GUPTA EPA Best photos from India's Republic Day parade Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) waves to spectators after the 70th Republic Day parade in New Delhi on January 26, 2019. - India celebrated its 70th Republic Day. (Photo by Prakash SINGH / AFP)PRAKASH SINGH/AFP/Getty Images PRAKASH SINGH AFP Best photos from India's Republic Day parade Indian Border Security Force (BSF) soldiers ride their camels during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi, India, January 26, 2019. REUTERS/Altaf Hussain ALTAF HUSSAIN Reuters Best photos from India's Republic Day parade A tableau of the Indian state of Delhi takes part during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi on January 26, 2019. - India celebrated its 70th Republic Day. (Photo by Money SHARMA / AFP)MONEY SHARMA/AFP/Getty Images MONEY SHARMA AFP/Getty Best photos from India's Republic Day parade Indian Border Security Force (BSF) soldiers ride their camels during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi, India, January 26, 2019. REUTERS/Altaf Hussain TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY ALTAF HUSSAIN Reuters Best photos from India's Republic Day parade Indian Border Security Force (BSF) personnel wearing brown uniforms and Pakistani Rangers wearing black uniforms perform while they take part in the Beating Retreat ceremony during the Republic Day celebrations at the India-Pakistan Wagah border post, some 35 kms from Amritsar on January 26, 2019. (Photo by NARINDER NANU / AFP)NARINDER NANU/AFP/Getty Images NARINDER NANU AFP/Getty Best photos from India's Republic Day parade Indian Army soldiers march past Rajpath, the ceremonial boulevard, at the end of the Republic Day parade in New Delhi, India, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019. Thousands of Indians have converged on a ceremonial boulevard to watch a display of the country's military power and cultural diversity amid tight security during national day celebrations. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup) Manish Swarup AP

Since the video was widely shared on social media and sparked an inevitable outrage, police have detained or lodged cases against nine Hindu Mahasabha members, including Ms Pandey and Mr Pandey, a party spokesperson.

Speaking outside court where the two appeared on Wednesday, Mr Pandey did not deny their involvement in the video but argued that they did nothing wrong.

The couple had “no regrets”, they told reporters. Mr Pandey compared the recreation of the assassination to Ravana Dahan, a ritual where effigies are burned to celebrate the day when Lord Rama killed Ravana, as told in the Hindu epic Ramayana.

“We don’t find anything wrong in it because the country celebrates Ravana Dahan as well by recreating the scene. We have done the act inside our office premises,” he said.

He added that Gandhi was responsible for the partition of India, in which 1 million Hindus died.

Police said those involved in making the video were arrested for inciting hatred between groups and insulting religion. “We arrested nine people within a week and are searching for two more suspects in the case,” officer Neeraj Jadaun told the BBC.

India’s main opposition Congress party, of which Gandhi was a member, has led the outrage against the video, organising protests across the country on Monday.

Government spokesperson Pawan Khera claimed that Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist BJP, which forms the central government as well as the Uttar Pradesh state assembly, had emboldened such incidents and given Gandhi critics a sense of impunity.

Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events

While Mr Modi has occasionally called upon the legacy of Gandhi, since 2014 his party has elevated Hindu nationalist leaders from the past and drawn less focus to the historic role of Congress figures such as Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister.