Kannada actor Chetan Kumar held for tweet condemning Hindutva

BENGALURU: Kannada film actor and activist Chetan Kumar aka Chetan Ahimsa was arrested on Tuesday from his Bengaluru home and sent to judicial custody for 14 days for his tweet the day before that “Hindutva is built on lies”.
The 40-year-old had gotten into trouble before for remarks made against a Karnataka HC judge that led to his arrest in February 2022. He had to spend six days in prison.

DCP (Central) R Srinivas Gowda said action against the actor follows a complaint filed by an individual Monday night against his tweet on Hindutva.
Police registered an FIR in which he’s charged under IPC sections 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) and 505 (2) (statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes).
Chetan, an American Kannadiga who has graduated from Yale University in South Asian studies, had earned a 12-month Fulbright scholarship and came to Bengaluru in 2005. His debut Kannada movie, ‘Aa Dinagalu’, was a box office hit.
Chetan has been fighting for LGBTQIA rights. He supported protests against farm laws and opposed the so-called move to “impose” Hindi among people who don’t primarily speak the language.