Mahesh Shetty Thimarodi (left) joining the Pragathipara Sangatanegala Horata Samithi members seeking re-investigation into the rape and murder of Soujanya, at Freedom Park, in Bengaluru on July 28, 2023.
| Photo Credit: Murali Kumar K
Udupi police took activist Mahesh Shetty Thimarody into custody on August 21 in connection with a compliant registered against him for alleged derogatory comments on BJP national general secretary B.L. Santosh.
Udupi Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar said notices were issued twice to Mr. Thimarody asking him to appear before the investigation officer in connection with the case registered against him. Mr. Thimarody was booked for offences under Sections 353(2) (statements conducing to public mischief), a non-bailable offence, and 352 (intentional insult with an intent to provoke breach of peace) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. He failed to respond to the notices.
As Mr. Thimarody is a repeat offender, the Brahmavar police took him into custody from his house, near Ujire, Mr. Shankar stated.
As per the second notice, Mr. Thimarody was asked to appear before the investigation officer by 9 a.m. on August 21.
When Mr. Thimarody failed to respond, a team of Udupi police went to his house. Getting a hint of the arrival of the police team, supporters of Mr. Thimarody had gathered in big numbers. Mr. Thimarody reportedly refused to board the police vehicle and offered to proceed to Brahmavar police station in his own vehicle.
Mr. Thimarody left his house in his vehicle, accompanied by fellow activist Girish Mattannavar, a former sub-inspector of police, and a few of his supporters. This vehicle was escorted by vehicles of the Udupi police. The convoy left for Brahmavar around 11 a.m.
In the compliant registered by Brahmavar police, Rajiv Kumar, president of Udupi Rural BJP Mandal, accused Mr. Thimarody of making personal comments and maligning the character of Mr. Santosh during an interview with Kudla Rampage You Tube channel. Complaints were filed in police stations across Dakshina Kannada.
BJP legislators, during the legislature session on August 18, had sought action against Mr. Thimarody and Mr. Mattannavar for the latter’s comments on persons raising their voice against the ‘smear’ campaign on Dharmasthala temple during the ongoing probe by a Special Investigation Team into allegations of mass burial of bodies.
Activist were questioned on August 20
On August 20, Mr. Thimarody, Mr. Mattannavar and another activist T. Jayanth were questioned till late at night by the Belthangady police in connection four cases registered against them, and 13 others, following an attack on a reporter and cameraperson of a Kannada news channel outside a private hospital at Ujire on August 6.
Published – August 21, 2025 02:10 pm IST
