Published Sep 11, 2026 | 12:42 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 11, 2026 | 12:42 PM
The Nandini Layout Police registered an FIR on Thursday, 10 September.
Synopsis: The Nandini Layout Police registered an FIR on journalist G Mahantesh’s complaint on Thursday. Earlier, the police refused to register the FIR and instead asked the complainant to approach a court. Mahantesh alleged that he had been receiving abusive phone calls and threats to life after he had published reports on Siddhartha Vihara Trust, linked to AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge’s family.
After initial reluctance, the Nandini Layout police have now registered an FIR on The File’s Editor-in-Chief G Mahantesh’s complaint over alleged abusive calls and threats linked to reports published on 8 and 9 September.
The FIR, registered on Thursday, 10 September, as Crime No. 364/2026 under BNS Sections 352 and 351(3), named an unknown person as the accused.
Mahantesh alleged that the caller contacted him on WhatsApp, questioned his reports, abused him and threatened to assault him if the posts were not removed. He also alleged abusive comments were posted on his Facebook posts.
The complaint had initially been recorded as NCR No. 556/2026; the FIR said the case was subsequently registered after an order from the jurisdictional court.
The Kannada investigative platform The File reported on Siddhartha Vihara Trust, linked to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s family.
The threat came days after the Karnataka High Court dealt with a separate case concerning alleged irregularities in Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) land allotments to the Siddhartha Vihar Trust.
The HC set aside the special court’s earlier decision to conduct its own inquiry and remitted the matter, directing that the complainant be given an opportunity to rectify defects in his affidavit. The case must thereafter be considered in accordance with the procedure prescribed under Section 175 of the BNSS.
The court did not express any opinion on the merits of the corruption allegations.
Also Read: The File’s editor G. Mahantesh gets threat calls
The Karnataka Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) and the Opposition BJP condemned the threats to Mahantesh.
KUWJ condemned the alleged threats and described them as an attack on press freedom. The journalists’ body also expressed concern over the police’s alleged refusal to register a case. KUWJ demanded the immediate registration of a case against those responsible and also sought police protection for Mahantesh.
The police had reportedly refused to register an FIR. Instead, they asked the journalist to approach the court.
BJP leader R. Ashoka used the opportunity to criticise the state government and Home Minister Priyank Kharge.
In a post on X, Ashoka questioned why the police refused to register an FIR based on Mahantesh’s complaint.
“A journalist receives death threats. Police refuse to register an FIR. Who is Junior Kharge’s Home Department protecting?” he asked.
“A journalist facing a serious threat approaches the police seeking protection. Instead of registering an FIR, initiating an investigation and ensuring his safety, the police simply turn him away,” he alleged.
Targeting the Home Minister, Ashoka asked, “Home Minister Priyank Kharge avare, are you in charge of the Home Department to protect the people, or to misuse the police machinery to safeguard your political and personal interests?”
The BJP leader demanded registration of a case based on the complaint, immediate police protection for Mahantesh, and an inquiry into the conduct of the police officials who handled it.
