The actor was booked under Sections 295(B) and 505(2) of the IPC, and remanded in judicial custody on Tuesday.
Actor Chetan Ahimsa. (ChetanAhimsa/Twitter)
Kannada actor and socio-political activist Chetan Kumar aka Chetan Ahimsa was on Tuesday, 21 March, arrested by the Bengaluru City Police over his tweet that said Hindutva was “built on Lies”.
The actor on Monday stated on his Twitter handle:
“Savarkar: Indian ‘nation’ began when Rama defeated Ravana & returned to Ayodhya —> a lie
1992: Babri Masjid is ‘birthplace of Rama’ —> a lie
2023: Urigowda-Nanjegowda are ‘killers’ of Tipu —> a lie
Hindutva can be defeated by TRUTH —> truth is EQUALITY [sic]”
Hindutva is built on LIES
Savarkar: Indian ‘nation’ began when Rama defeated Ravana & returned to Ayodhya —> a lie
1992: Babri Masjid is ‘birthplace of Rama’ —> a lie
2023: Urigowda-Nanjegowda are ‘killers’ of Tipu—> a lie
Hindutva can be defeated by TRUTH—> truth is EQUALITY pic.twitter.com/0Yjz4x1aea
— Chetan Kumar Ahimsa / ಚೇತನ್ ಅಹಿಂಸಾ (@ChetanAhimsa) March 20, 2023
Soon after the actor’s tweet went viral, a Bajrang Dal member identified as Shivakumar filed a complaint with the Sheshadripuram police in the city on Monday itself.
According to police sources, Shivakumar stated in his complaint that the actor’s tweet hurt the sentiments of Hindus and could provoke a breach of peace.
Based on his complaint, Chetan Ahimsa was booked under IPC Sections 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) and 505 (2) (whoever makes, publishes or circulates any statement or report containing rumour or alarming news with intent to create or promote, or which is likely to create or promote, on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, caste or community or any other ground whatsoever, feelings of enmity, or hatred).
The actor was arrested on Tuesday and produced before a magistrate, who remanded him in judicial custody.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Division) Srinivas Gowda told South First: “Since the sections invoked are non-bailable in nature, the accused has been remanded in judicial custody. If he secures bail, he would be released according to court orders.”
This is not the first time the actor has been arrested for his controversial tweets.
In February 2022, the actor was arrested for his tweet on a judge who was hearing a case on whether hijabs were acceptable in government schools.
He tweeted on 27 June, 2020: “This week KA High Court Justice Krishna Dixit granted pre-arrest bail to rape-accused Rakesh B claiming ‘It is unbecoming of Indian woman to sleep after rape; that is not way women react when they are ravished’ What’s ‘unbecoming’ is 21st c misogyny of this judiciary Dixit fossil [sic].”
Quoting this tweet, Chetan Ahimsa went on to post in February 2022 asking if the same judge had required clarity for passing judgement over the hijab row in Karnataka.
The actor tweeted: “This is a tweet I wrote nearly two years ago regarding a Karnataka High Court decision. Justice Krishna Dixit made such disturbing comments in a rape case. Now this same judge is determining whether #hijabs are acceptable or not in govt schools. Does he have the clarity required? [sic]”
This is a tweet I wrote nearly two years ago regarding a Karnataka High Court decision
Justice Krishna Dixit made such disturbing comments in a rape case
Now this same judge is determining whether #hijabs are acceptable or not in govt schools
Does he have the clarity required? pic.twitter.com/Vg8VRXmJTW
— Chetan Kumar Ahimsa / ಚೇತನ್ ಅಹಿಂಸಾ (@ChetanAhimsa) February 16, 2022
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