Bengaluru: A storm erupted in Karnataka after two separate incidents involving derogatory remarks against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah triggered swift police and administrative action, underscoring the state government’s zero-tolerance stance on defamatory comments targeting public officials.
On Saturday, Bengaluru Police arrested Gururaj Achar, an assistant priest at the Ganapathi temple run by the Sri Raghavendra Swamy Seva Samiti Trust, after he allegedly used abusive language against the chief minister. The controversy erupted when Achar, during an interview with a YouTube news channel, slammed Siddaramaiah for inviting Booker Prize winner Banu Mustaq to inaugurate the upcoming Mysuru Dasara festival. While criticizing the decision, he reportedly crossed the line, using highly derogatory terms against the CM.
Acting promptly, the Kengeri police registered a suo motu case, arrested Achar, and later released him on station bail. The temple trust swiftly suspended him from his duties, issuing a statement condemning his remarks and distancing itself from the controversy.
Meanwhile, in Kalaburagi district, Praveenkumar Udagi, a Panchayat Development Officer, landed in trouble for sharing a morphed image of Siddaramaiah wearing a skullcap on WhatsApp. Authorities suspended him pending an inquiry after filing charges over the inflammatory post.
