Mahesh Kathi to challenge his externment order in High Court

Two weeks after his sudden externment from Hyderabad, film critic Mahesh Kathi has decided to move the High Court challenging Telangana Police’s order to banish him from the city for six months. Kathi, who is currently in Bengaluru after he was externed from Hyderabad for hurting religious sentiments, says the order is undemocratic.
“They (Telangana Police) have robbed me of my livelihood in the most undemocratic manner. I earn my living in Hyderabad, and to suddenly take me away from there without any notice, has gravely jeopardised my means of livelihood,” says the anguished critic.
Kathi believes that his comments on Ramayana were blown out of proportion and that the action taken against him was unwarranted. “I have not threatened anybody, I have not incited any violence. I merely expressed my opinion but I’m getting targeted for it. This order is baseless and humiliating and I will challenge it,” he says, fuming.
Speaking to Hyderabad Times, Mahesh Kathi’s lawyer, Ravi Balla revealed that he will be filing a case in the Hyderabad High Court this week. “It is a clear infringement of his Fundamental Rights. They have removed him without even giving a prior notice, which is against the law. He should be given at least a 24-hour window, but that was not followed. They have also taken away his livelihood. We will be approaching the High Court and will ask for the order to be squashed and for Kathi to return to Hyderabad,” Balla informs.
“Moreover, my client needs to be in Hyderabad to make his living and this has caused tremendous personal pain to him. This order has to be scrapped,” he adds.
Interestingly, Swami Paripoornananda, who had taken out a rally in protest against Kathi’s remarks, has also been externed from the city. However, Kathi says that to draw parallels between his and Swami Paripoornananda’s externments is foolhardy.
“It’s laughable to be compared to Swami Paripoornananda. He was the one who has incited violence and made threatening remarks against me. I have merely expressed my opinion and I’m being punished for it.”
Kathi, who is currently staying with a friend in Bengaluru, contends that he has been targeted because he is a Dalit. “The
fact remains that a Dalit has expressed
his opinion and interpretation of the
Ramayana text. Lot of upper caste people, had in the past also questioned Rama. In the 1980s, Aarudhra had written a book called ‘Ramudiki Sita Yemautundi’, where he questioned their relationship in a critical way. In Tamil Nadu, Periyar Ramasamy had also criticised Ramayana, as did famous poet and lawyer Tripuraneni Ramaswamy. But has anyone been banished like me
before? This is all part of a larger conspiracy,” he adds, signing off.
Showcause notice served to Kathi
Meanwhile, the Rachakonda and Cyberabad Police Commissioners have served showcause notice
to Mahesh Kathi asking him to explain why he should not be stopped from entering Cyberabad and Rachakonda limits. Citing various videos in which Kathi had spoken about Ramayana,
the order read, “A video has gone viral on social media where Kathi Mahesh reiterated and challenged one section of the society for making comments against him on the grounds of that they do not have any knowledge. This statement has added fuel to the fire and clearly shows that he is inclined to continue such illegal acts.” “Under the above circumstances, it is required that his presence in the limits of Cyberabad/ Rachakonda Commissionerate is dangerous and harmful to the safety and security of the people and public order. As such, you should not
enter the limits of Cyberabad/ Rachakonda Commissionerate in order to maintain public peace and order in public interest,” the order read.