BJP Activist Arrested For Challenging CM's Response To Udupi Toilet Incident, Later Released On Bail

The incident involved three minor girls and raised debates on freedom of expression and defamation laws.

Updated on: 28 July 2023 5:02 pm

Shakuntala H S

In an intriguing turn of events, a BJP woman activist, Shakuntala H S, found herself arrested and later released by the Bengaluru police after she dared to question the Karnataka Chief Minister's reaction to a sensitive incident in Udupi. The activist's tweet was in response to a Congress social media post that termed the Udupi toilet recording incident involving three minor girls from a minority community as a mere prank among kids and not a communal issue.

The Udupi incident had caused uproar as three schoolgirls were suspended for allegedly recording another student inside a paramedical college's restroom while secretly carrying banned mobile phones. The Udupi police filed an FIR against the girls and the college director for outraging the modesty of a woman.

As the situation escalated and political overtones were introduced, Shakuntala H S took to Twitter, posing a daring question to the Chief Minister. She asked whether he would react casually if his own wife or daughter-in-law were subjected to such an invasion of privacy in a toilet, according to Indian Express.

Her tweet quickly caught the attention of Congress workers, who lodged a complaint against her, alleging defamation of the Chief Minister. Consequently, the Bengaluru police took action and arrested the BJP activist. However, she was later released on station bail.

The incident has sparked heated debates between political parties, with the BJP demanding the arrests of the girls involved, while the Congress raised concerns about the incident being politicized. On the legal front, the three accused minors surrendered in court and were granted bail, while the college director sought anticipatory bail.