Mangaluru: The president of Kuvettu Gram Panchayat, Bharati Shetty, has been booked for allegedly delivering a hate speech calling for the boycott of Muslim businesses during a public event in Belthangady taluk, Dakshina Kannada district.
The incident occurred on May 12 in Guruvayanakere, during a tribute event held in memory of Suhas Shetty, a Hindu activist who was recently murdered. According to the FIR, Shetty urged attendees to avoid engaging in any form of business with Muslims, explicitly targeting Muslim-owned shops and auto-rickshaw drivers.
Following a complaint lodged by Hariprasad Irvathraya, the Belthangady Police registered a case under Section 196(1)(a) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, which deals with hate speech and acts that promote enmity between groups.
Police begin probe into communal remarks
The speech has sparked concerns about rising communal polarisation in the coastal region. Authorities are reviewing video footage of the event and verifying the content of the speech. Police say appropriate action will be taken based on the outcome of the investigation.
The case has added to a string of incidents in the region that have highlighted the growing communal divide, often fuelled by inflammatory remarks at public gatherings.
No arrest has been made as of Tuesday evening, and Bharati Shetty has not issued any public statement in response to the FIR.
Legal experts weigh in
Legal observers note that the FIR under BNS 196(1)(a) could lead to serious consequences if the speech is found to have incited hatred or communal disharmony. The provision prohibits speech or actions that intend to incite enmity between different groups on the basis of religion, race, or community.
This development comes at a time when Karnataka’s coastal belt has seen a surge in social media posts, rallies, and public speeches that have raised concerns among peace activists and law enforcement agencies.