Mangaluru/Bantwal: Police have registered cases against 11 individuals and social media account holders for allegedly circulating edited photographs, misleading claims and communally sensitive content online following the murder of 21-year-old Lavanya at B.C. Road in Bantwal, Dakshina Kannada. The action comes amid concerns that fabricated posts and altered images were being used to give the murder a communal colour and disturb public peace.
Among those booked is right-wing journalist Kiran Aradhya, associated with the Samvada website, against whom an FIR has been registered at Bantwal Town Police Station for an alleged post on social media platform X. Police said further investigation is underway into all the cases.
FIR registered over alleged communal posts
Police registered the FIR against Kiran Aradhya on Friday based on a complaint filed by social activist Muhammad Siraj M.U.
According to the complaint, Aradhya shared a video relating to the murder of Lavanya along with a message that allegedly attempted to create a communal narrative around the incident. The complainant alleged that although police had already identified the accused, the social media post could create a false public perception regarding the identity of the accused and disturb communal harmony.
The complaint further alleged that references made to the accused’s appearance and clothing were intended to indirectly associate him with a particular community, despite no community being explicitly named.
Edited photographs circulated online
Police said several individuals allegedly edited the photograph of the murder accused, Chethan, by digitally adding a saffron shawl and a kumkum (vermilion) mark on his forehead before circulating the image on social media.
According to investigators, the edited image falsely portrayed the accused as a Bajrang Dal leader and claimed that he had received training from the organisation.
Police alleged that the edited image first appeared on the Instagram account ‘troll_master._’, accompanied by a caption identifying Chethan as a Bajrang Dal leader who had allegedly undergone training at a Bajrang Dal branch.
Officials said the image was subsequently shared through multiple social media platforms and messaging groups.
Multiple accounts under police scanner
Investigators alleged that similar posts and edited images were circulated through several social media accounts and WhatsApp groups.
These include the Yuva Belthangady WhatsApp group, Padmaraj Padmaraj Pari WhatsApp group, another WhatsApp group involving Anwar, the Yuva Congress Belthangady WhatsApp group operated by Aliza Alifa, and the Facts and Justice WhatsApp group operated by the account identified as rasheedlaila345.
Police are examining the origin of the posts and the extent to which the content was shared across various platforms.
Separate cases registered
Police have registered multiple criminal cases under Section 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, against different individuals for allegedly sharing misleading and inflammatory content.
In Crime No. 97/2026, police booked Shailaja Amarnath for allegedly uploading an edited photograph of the accused depicting him with a saffron shawl and kumkum while describing him as a Bajrang Dal leader.
In Crime No. 98/2026, Chethan Belchada was booked for allegedly editing the accused’s photograph to portray him as a Congress worker. The post reportedly included remarks concerning the ruling Congress government while demanding stringent punishment for the accused.
In Crime No. 99/2026, police booked Harsha K. Shetty, alleging that he circulated a video and poster in the Shri Rama Sene Karkala WhatsApp group falsely claiming that the accused belonged to the Billava community. According to police, the content spread false information and insulted the community.
In Crime No. 100/2026, police booked Kiran Aradhya, who operates the X account @KiranAradhyaadv, over the alleged post accompanying the murder video.
Police urge responsible use of social media
Police have reiterated that circulating false information, edited images or content capable of creating communal tension constitutes a serious offence.
Officials said they are closely monitoring social media platforms to identify individuals responsible for spreading misinformation or attempting to influence public opinion through fabricated content.
They also appealed to the public to verify information before sharing it online and refrain from forwarding unverified posts, especially in sensitive criminal cases.
Background of the murder case
Lavanya (21), a resident of Kakke Padavu, was allegedly hacked to death with a sharp weapon near the KSRTC bus stand at B.C. Road in Bantwal on Thursday evening while waiting for a bus.
Police identified the accused within hours as Chethan, a resident of Odilnala village in Belthangady taluk and a distant relative of the deceased. Preliminary investigation suggests that the murder was allegedly linked to a case of one-sided love.
The accused was taken into custody on Friday near Vamanjoor on the outskirts of Mangaluru.
With investigations continuing into both the murder and the circulation of misleading online content, police have emphasised that strict action will be taken against anyone found spreading false or inflammatory information capable of disturbing communal harmony or obstructing the investigation.