Bigg Boss Kannada stars Rajath Kishan and Vinay Gowda taken into three days police custody for controversial machete reel

Bigg Boss Kannada fame Rajath Kishan and Vinay Gowda have been remanded to three days of police custody after a court ruling on their controversial social media reel featuring a machete. The police sought custody to investigate further allegations of public endangerment and evidence tampering.
The case gained prominence after Rajath and Vinay were accused of filming a social media reel holding a machete, reportedly in a public space, which police argue could have caused fear among citizens. When questioned, the accused allegedly handed over a fake fiber machete instead of the real one used in the reel. This act, deemed an attempt to destroy evidence, has escalated the legal ramifications of the case.
On Tuesday, March 25, the police conducted a site inspection of the location where the video was shot and presented the duo before a judge after medical examinations. While the defense argued for their release, citing their status as actors and claiming the machete was a prop, the court sided with the prosecution's request for further investigation.
The prosecution highlighted the seriousness of the case, stating that public safety was at stake as the reel was uploaded to a social media account named , potentially causing panic. Public prosecutor Harishchandra Gowda argued that the accused misled investigators by presenting a fake machete and giving inconsistent statements.
The police emphasized the need to recover the original machete and the mobile devices used to shoot and upload the reel. They also pointed out that the accused admitted to misleading the investigation during their interrogation.
“This is not a matter of mere negligence. Public fear was instigated by the actions of the accused. The use of a real machete in public, even for a video, has consequences,” said the prosecution.
Rajath and Vinay’s defense team opposed the police custody, arguing that the machete used in the video was a harmless studio prop. They emphasized that the actors were merely performing for entertainment and not engaging in any criminal activity.
The defense questioned the lack of complaints from the public, asserting that no one reported feeling threatened by the video. They also criticized the police for not seizing props from the studio and called the accusations against their clients exaggerated.
“This was a creative act, not a criminal one. Our clients are public figures and actors who used a prop for a reel. The allegations of fear-mongering are baseless,” argued the defense lawyers.
Despite the defense’s objections, the judge granted three days of police custody, emphasizing the need for further investigation. The court directed the police to focus on recovering the original machete, verifying the authenticity of the reel, and determining if the accused intentionally instigated public fear.
The court also deferred the bail hearing until after the completion of the custody period.
This case has sparked widespread discussion about the responsibilities of public figures and the implications of social media content. Critics argue that actors and influencers must exercise caution when creating content that could be misconstrued or create panic.
As the investigation continues, the case has cast a spotlight on the thin line between entertainment and public safety, especially in the era of viral social media content.