Kathi Mahesh first non-criminal to be externed from city for 6 months

HYDERABAD: Film critic and rationalist Kathi Mahesh, who was externed from the city for six months, is the first person with non-criminal background to be handed out such punishment.


After Kathi Mahesh’s controversial remarks about ‘Ramayana’ and Lord Ram on TV channels and social media, several complaints were lodged against him at different police stations in Hyderabad. Subsequently, cases were also booked against him Talking to TOI from Bengaluru, Mahesh said he respects the state and plans to proceed legally about the externment order.

Banjara Hills police called Kathi Mahesh on July 2 night. After recording his statement, they let him off. Subsequently, Mahesh kept engaging with people on social media platforms about the controversial topic and the Hyderabad police commissioner issued orders externing him from the city for six months.

The orders were executed by police at Mahesh’s flat in

Somajiguda

on Monday and Telangana DGP M Mahendar Reddy informed the media about the development. Apart from externing Kathi Mahesh, police also put under `house arrest’ Swami Paripoornanda, who wanted to stage a rally from Boduppal to Yadgirigutta in protest against the government’s alleged inaction on people making controversial remarks against Lord Ram.

While the house arrest of Swami Paripoornanda continued in Jubilee Hills for the second consecutive day, Kathi Mahesh reached Bengaluru on Tuesday .

Talking to TOI, Kathi Mahesh said he was feeling victimised and would proceed legally. “I respect the state. My life and livelihood depends on Hyderabad and they cannot deny my right to live. We are proceeding legally on those grounds,” he said.

Mahesh, who directed a Tollywood film and also acted in some movies, said that despite not having a criminal record, he was externed from the city. “I am not the one threatening people or disturbing public order. In fact, Nagababu and Paripoornanda are the ones who are threatening the government by trying to disturb peace and tranquillity. I am a law-abiding citizen and I will continue to do so,” Mahesh added.

The Hyderabad police had last issued an externment order in 2014 against Mohammed Jabri, a history-sheeter of Chaderghat. Prior to that, police had issued such orders against notorious history-sheeters Md Yousuf alias Junglee Yousuf, Mohammed Khaisar and lady don Farah Fathima.