Kannada writer and rationalist K S Bhagwan was smeared with ink by a woman advocate and activist outside the sessions court in Bengaluru on Thursday.
Bhagwan was attending the court in connection with a case and was granted bail by the ACMM court. While walking out of the court premises, Prof Bhagwan was smeared with black ink by advocate Meera Raghavendra.
Later, Meera uploaded the video of the incident on her social media account with a slogan “Jai Shri Ram” and justified her actions. Later, Bhagwan filed a complaint with the Halasurugate police station.
Meera, as seen in the video, was shouting at Bhagwan, “Are you not ashamed to talk about Sri Rama, religion at this age? I wanted to bring you to the court for what you have done. I am ready to face anything.” The clip was streamed live on her social media accounts.
Bhagwan was escorted out of the court by a gunman and a police constable. Sources in the police department revealed to DH that Meera had filed a complaint against Bhagwan in October 2020 and a criminal case was registered against him under sections 298 and 505 of IPC. Meera’s social media post also referred to the case against Bhagwan. He had reportedly attended the court in connection with the case.
Later, Meera told reporters outside the court, “I have smeared him with ink and I stand by it. But if he steps out, people will hurl stones at him.”
The state government had provided Bhagwan with a gunman after his name figured on the hit list of journalist Gauri Lankesh’s assassins. Recently,
Bhagwan courted yet another controversy with his book ‘Rama Mandira Yake Beda’ (Why we do not need Ram Mandir?) with derogatory remarks against Lord Sri Rama.