FIR filed against writer Bhagavan for his comments on Vokkaligas

MYSURU: A week after writer KS Bhagavan's address at the Mahisha Utsava celebration, police have registered an FIR against him on charges of promoting enmity between people of different faiths.

Referring to the writings of Kuvempu, Bhagavan had claimed "Vokkaligas are uncultured", though he immediately attributed the words to the poet laureate. The writer was booked under IPC sections 153 and 153A.

Based on a complaint lodged by Gangadhar CG, president, Karnataka State Vokkaliga Association, at Ramakrishnanagar, an FIR was registered by Devaraja police. DCP (Law and Order) M Mutturaj confirmed registering of a FIR.

In his complaint, Gangadhar had alleged that at Mahisha Utsava, Bhagavan had insulted lord Ram and made derogatory comments about Vokkaligas.

The association had also lodged a separate complaint on October 16. Gangadhar, and Tejesh Lokesh Gowda, the district president of the association, urged the police to arrest Bhagavan.