How BJP and mainstream media collectively twisted the facts in journalist arrest case

Shaastra Bhat Urimajalu | coastaldigest.com
November 15, 2018

Newsroom, Nov 15: The mainstream media in Karnataka has once again toed the Sangh Parivar line and showed its unwavering loyalty and unconditional allegiance to the self-proclaimed saviours of Hindutva by unhesitatingly twisting the facts in the case of arrest of a Kannada journalist, who had allegedly made offensive remarks against Prophet Muhammad at an event in communally sensitive Kodagu district earlier this month.

Santosh Thammaiah, whose articles often appear in Hosa Digantha and other right-leaning Kannada news papers and magazines, was arrested by the police last Monday night when he had visited his in-law’s residence in Madhugiri in Tumakuru district under Indian Penal Code section 295(A) (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings). The very next day he was released on conditional bail.

The arrest came a week after a complaint was lodged against him by Askar KV, a resident of Siddapura in Kodagu district on November 6 against Mr Thammaiah, who had delivered an inflammatory speech on November 5 at an “illegal” event organised by Prajna Kaveri, a Hindutva group at Gonikoppa in Kodagu district. According to police, the organisers had not even obtained permission for the event.

The hate speech

In his address, Mr Thammaiah had reportedly said the tenets preached by the Prophet Muhammad in Arabia centuries ago were full of intolerance and selfishness. He went on to claim that Tipu Sultan became the first terrorist of India by following the teachings of the Prophet. BJP activists had widely circulated the media reports of his provocative speech. The complainant also alleged Mr Thammaiah hurt the sentiments of Hindus as well by comparing Mir Sadiq (a minister who betrayed Tipu Sultan during the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War) to Sri Krishna.

The complainant had expressed concern that such speech can lead to unrest and disrupt the peace in the region. The complainant also said that Mr Thammaiah’s offensive remarks were aimed at creating unrest between Hindus and Muslims.  Even though the police had initially ignored the complaint, they filed the first information report (FIR) after protest by local Muslims.

BJP’s misleading campaign

Within hours of Thimmaiah’s arrest, the social media team of BJP launched a campaign claiming that a journalist, who opposed Tipu Jayanti celebration by the Karnataka government, was arrested as part of chief minister H D Kumaraswamy’s Muslim appeasement policy.

Journalist-turned-politician Pratap Simha, who is also the MP from Mysuru-Kodagu constituency, was quick to denounce the arrest. “You timid govt, arrested my dear friend Santhosh Thammaiah. We vl fight it out (sic),” he tweeted. “Santosh Thammaiah who spoke about the brutalities against Hindus by Tyrant Tippu Sultan has been arrested by the Communal Government in Karnataka... (sic),” tweeted CT Ravi, Karnataka BJP general secretary and Chikkamagaluru MLA. “Arrest of Thammaiah is a sledge-hammer blow on the freedom of the press,” claimed Aravinda Limbavali, another senior BJP leader. “Santhosh Thammaiah, a writer with nationalist leaning arrested by coward Karnataka Police for speaking against Tippu Jayanthi .. We will fight tooth & nail against this cowardice act(sic),” tweeted RSS leader B L Santhosh.

On the other hand, the activists of BJP, Vishwa Hindu Parishat, Bajrang Dal and Hindu Jagarana Vedike staged a protest in Madikeri on Wednesday and also called for a Kodagu bandh between 12 noon and 1 pm (lunch hour bandh?), which evoked poor response.

The role of media

While official mouthpieces of Sangh Parivar brazenly justified the provocative remarks by the journalist, other news papers and television channels that often proclaim their ‘impartial and neutral stance’ cannily hid his abusive statements and lied to people that he was arrested for opposing Tipu Jayanti organised by the Karnataka state government!

Leading English dailies such as The Hindu, The Times of India, The New Indian Express apparently refrained from disclosing the real reason behind the arrest of Mr Thammaiah and highlighted the BJP’s claim that he was “arrested for speaking against the celebration of Tipu Jayanti”.

The Press Trust of India, a prominent national news agency claimed that Mr Thammaiah was arrested for his “speech against the recent Tipu Jayanti celebrations”, while the official website of the Times Now directly claimed that he was arrested for “opposing Tipu Jayanti” and underscored a BJP’s leader's claim that “Hindus are under attack”.

The following is the copy of First Information Report (FIR) filed by the police

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News Network
November 21,2025

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Udupi: The Malpe Police have arrested two men from Uttar Pradesh for allegedly sharing classified information related to Indian Navy vessels with individuals in Pakistan, posing a serious threat to national security.

According to a complaint filed by the CEO of Udupi Cochin Shipyard, Malpe—an institution under the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways—the prime accused, Rohit (29), was working as an insulator through subcontractor M/S Shushma Marine Pvt Ltd. He had earlier served at Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kochi, Kerala, where naval ships are under construction.

Udupi SP Hariram Shankar said the accused had unlawfully shared, via WhatsApp, confidential identification numbers of Navy-related ships and other classified details while working in Kerala, allegedly for illegal gains.

After joining the Malpe shipyard unit, Rohit reportedly continued collecting sensitive information through a friend in Kochi and circulated it to unauthorised individuals, violating national security protocols and potentially endangering India’s sovereignty, unity, and integrity.

Based on the complaint, Malpe Police registered a case under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923.

A police team led by Karkala Subdivision Assistant Superintendent of Police Harsha Priyamvada—along with PSI Anil Kumar D, ASI Harish, and PC Ravi Jadhav—conducted the investigation and arrested the two accused, identified as Rohit (29) and Santri (37), both residents of Sultanpur district, Uttar Pradesh.

The duo was produced before the court, which remanded them in judicial custody till December 3. Further investigation is in progress.

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News Network
November 26,2025

Mangaluru, Nov 26: Assembly Speaker and local MLA U.T. Khader has initiated a high-level push to resolve one of Mangaluru’s longest-standing traffic headaches: the narrow, high-density stretch of National Highway-66 between Nanthoor and Talapady.

He announced on Tuesday that a formal proposal has been submitted to the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) seeking approval to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the widening of this crucial corridor.

The plan specifically aims to expand the existing 45-meter road width to a full 60 meters, coupled with the construction of dedicated service roads. Khader highlighted that land for a 60-meter highway was originally acquired during the initial four-laning project, but only 45 meters were developed, leading to a perpetual bottleneck.

"With vehicle density rising sharply, the expansion has become unavoidable," Khader stated, stressing that the upgrade is essential for ensuring smoother traffic flow and improving safety at the city's main entry and exit points.

The stretch between Nanthoor and Talapady is a vital link on the busy Kochi-Panvel coastal highway and connects to major city junctions. The move to utilize the previously acquired land for the full 60-meter width is seen as a necessary measure to catch up with the region's rapid vehicular growth and prevent further traffic gridlocks.

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News Network
December 2,2025

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Bengaluru: 'Nati koli saaru' (country chicken curry) considered one of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s favourites along with steaming hot idlis was on the breakfast menu at Deputy CM D K Shivakumar’s residence on Tuesday, according to official sources.

The spread also included 'nati koli' fry, vada and pongal, among other items, they said.

In an apparent show of unity, Siddaramaiah visited Shivakumar’s residence for breakfast, just days after the two leaders shared a meal amid a simmering power tussle in the state Congress.

Siddaramaiah drove to the Deputy CM’s residence in Sadashivanagar, where he was received by Shivakumar and his brother D K Suresh, who is a former Congress MP.

Suresh and Kunigal MLA H D Ranganath, a relative of Shivakumar, joined them for breakfast, which featured a mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.

Speaking to reporters later, Siddaramaiah said Shivakumar had invited him during his visit to the CM’s residence for breakfast on Saturday.

Asked about the difference between the two meals, the chief minister said, "At his (Shivakumar’s) house it was non-veg, while at my house it was veg. He is a vegetarian, I am a non-vegetarian. I had not prepared non-veg. I told DK to get chicken from the village as you won’t get the original in Bengaluru."

Shivakumar said he had initially invited Siddaramaiah to his residence, but the CM had suggested visiting his place first and reciprocating later. "It was a vegetarian breakfast at the CM’s house on Saturday," he noted.

"Today, I invited him (the CM) to my house. He enjoyed the breakfast, which had his Mysuru taste," Shivakumar added. At this point, Siddaramaiah remarked that Shivakumar’s wife is also from Mysuru.

Saturday’s breakfast at Siddaramaiah’s official residence, held as part of efforts by the Congress high command to ease tensions in the leadership dispute between the two, reportedly included idlis and sambar, according to official sources.

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