Police on Saturday arrested an assistant priest of a temple in Kengeri, southwest Bengaluru, for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
The accused, identified as Gururaj Achar, was taken into custody after video clips of his comments went viral on social media. The Kengeri Police registered a suo motu case in connection with the incident.
According to officials, the remarks were linked to the state government’s decision to invite Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate this year’s Mysuru Dasara festival.
Following the controversy, the Sri Raghavendra Seva Samithi trust clarified Achar’s position and announced his dismissal. “He is not a priest of Raghavendra Swamy Mutt, but an assistant priest of a Ganesha temple attached to it. He has since been dismissed,” the committee said in a statement, while strongly condemning his remarks.
(With inputs from Deccan Chronicle)
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