Bangalore: Kannada actor Chetan Kumar alias Chetan Ahimsa was arrested by police here Tuesday for his alleged ‘controversial’ tweet about Hindutva. According to Seshadripuram police, the action was taken against the 40-year-old Chetan Kumar, who acted in several films, based on the complaint by a person named Shivakumar.
Police said Chetan has been arrested under section of IPC 295A (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 subsequently produced before a magistrate court here, which remanded him to 14 days judicial custody, officials said.
Also read: Karnataka hijab ban: Girls move SC for permission to take exam in headscarf
In his tweet March 20, which now Twitter says ‘doesn’t exist’, Chetan had allegedly said, “Hindutva is built on lies and it can be defeated by truth, and that truth is equality.”
Chetan has also reportedly listed out as ‘example of lies’ – Hindutva ideologue VD Savarkar’s statement, Babri Masjid site as the birth place of Rama, and narrative that Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda killed Tipu Sultan.
The actor was arrested in February last year also. Chetan was arrested for his alleged tweet on a judge who was hearing a case on whether hijabs were acceptable in government schools.
