In an unusual and dramatic move Telangana police has cracked down against a renowned film critic Kathi Mahesh and banished him from entering Hyderabad city for six months for making inflammatory comments against Hindu deities Ram and Sita and shifted him to neighboring Andhra Pradesh. Telangana Director General of Police M Mahender Reddy said that he has been banned from entering the city for endangering the peace.
A team of city police officials hon Monday handed him over to Andhra Pradesh police as he was a resident of Chittoor district. “If he comes to the city without permission, he may face three months imprisonment”, the DGP told a press conference adding that if any body hurts the religious sentiments of any community, stern action will be taken against the person.
“for present he was banned from entering the city. Whether the ban should be extended to entire state of Telangana will be considered later”, he said.
The move came on the day when a Hindu religious figure Swami Sampoornanda tried to organize a protest march to demand action against Kathi Mahesh. But the city police kept him under house arrest and did not allow him to venture out. Police had tightened the security around his house in Jubilee Hills in view of his plan to organize a Yatra.
Kathi Maehsh as in the eye of a storm ever since he made some inappropriate and controversial remarks against the celestial couple Ram and Sita during a panel discussion on a TV channel sparking a strong protest from various quarters.
On receiving a complaint last week Kathi Mahesh was summoned to the police station for questioning and later let off. Even after this he continued to make controversial remarks on social media prompting the latest action.
Apart from expelling Kathi Mahesh from the city for six months the city police also issue notice under Cable TV Regulation Act to the TV channel on which he made a remark. The channel management was asked why action should not be taken against it for endangering the peace.