Overview
- Police registered separate cases after complaints on August 30 and September 1 named activists Girish Mattannanavar and Mahesh Shetty Thimarody for content alleged to disturb communal harmony and offend public sentiment.
- The first FIR, based on a complaint by Praveen K R, cites BNS Sections 204, 319(2), 353(2) and 3(5) and also names Madan Bugudi, with allegations of bringing bloggers to spread false and provocative videos.
- A second complaint by Dharmasthala resident D. Rajendra Das concerns a video clip posted on the Janata News YouTube channel and is registered under BNS Section 296 for allegedly obscene and offensive speech.
- Police say investigations are underway in both cases with statements being recorded and digital evidence collected in Dakshina Kannada district.
- The actions follow earlier cases against the activists and unfold against the backdrop of an ongoing SIT probe and political claims of conspiracy or smear campaigns related to Dharmasthala.