This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.

Journalism Professor In Bangalore Jailed For Insulting Lord Rama

Journalism Professor In Bangalore Jailed For Insulting Lord Rama
An Indian artist puts the final touches to statues of the Hindu God Lord Ram ahead of the Sri Rama Navami Festival at a workshop in Hyderabad on April 13, 2016. Sri Rama Navami will be held on April 15 and celebrates both the birth of Rama and his wedding to Sita. / AFP / NOAH SEELAM (Photo credit should read NOAH SEELAM/AFP/Getty Images)
NOAH SEELAM via Getty Images
An Indian artist puts the final touches to statues of the Hindu God Lord Ram ahead of the Sri Rama Navami Festival at a workshop in Hyderabad on April 13, 2016. Sri Rama Navami will be held on April 15 and celebrates both the birth of Rama and his wedding to Sita. / AFP / NOAH SEELAM (Photo credit should read NOAH SEELAM/AFP/Getty Images)

NEW DELHI -- A journalism professor in Bangalore has been jailed for allegedly insulting Lord Rama.

The Hindustan Times reported today that Professor B.P. Mahesh Guru, who teaches journalism at Mysore University, was arrested on June 17 in connection with a case registered against him for allegedly insulting the Hindu god at a conference in January, 2015.

Earlier this year, another complaint was filed against Guru for allegedly using abusive language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani and former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

Guru had spoken at a condolence event for Rohith Vemula, the University of Hyderabad student, whose suicide sparked anger across the country, and is widely regarded to have been the result of harassment by his college authorities.

Guru was reportedly denied bail in the Lord Rama case because he is also embroiled in the case about insulting Modi and Irani, according to HT. He alleged described Irani as a “third-rate actress unworthy of being the HRD minister."

The Indian Express, however, reported that he refused to avail bail.

Guru allegedly made the remarks about Lord Rama at a conference in January 2015. HT reported that some people in the audience were offended that Guru said that Lord Rama was unfair to Sita, and a group called Karnadu Sarvodaya Sena filed a complaint against him.

The University of Mysore is also deciding whether to suspend Guru because he celebrated Mahishasur Martyrdom Day to pay tribute to the demon king slain by Goddess Durga. In her speech in Parliament, Irani had condemned the celebration of Mahishasur Martyrdom Day.

Contact HuffPost India

Also on HuffPost India:

Close
This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.