Karnataka police have registered an FIR against retired professor and rationalist writer K.S. Bhagawan over alleged remarks targeting Lord Ram, Hindu deities, and the Valmiki Ramayan, made during a public event in Davanagere district on 9 June 2025. The case was filed on Friday, 13 June, by the Harihara Rural Police following a complaint from a local resident.

What the Complaint Alleges

The FIR was lodged on the basis of a complaint filed by Dinesh, a resident of KR Nagar in Harihar. According to the complaint, Bhagawan made the contested remarks while addressing a programme organised by the Karnataka Dalit Sangharsha Samiti at B. Krishnappa Maitrivan in Hanagawadi village on 9 June.

The event was convened to mark the birth anniversaries of social reformer Prof. B. Krishnappa and Dr B.R. Ambedkar. The complainant alleged that Bhagawan claimed 'Shri Rama was not born to King Dasharath', described Hindu deities as murderers, and asserted that Hindus should not worship Hindu gods. The complaint further alleged that Bhagawan invoked Dr Ambedkar as a supporter of such views — a claim that has not been independently verified.

Sections Invoked and Investigation Status

Harihara Rural Police have booked Bhagawan under Sections 196(1)(a) and 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertain to promoting enmity between groups and deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings. Police confirmed that an investigation is underway to ascertain the facts and circumstances surrounding the alleged remarks.

The complainant contended that the statements insulted Hindu religious beliefs, sacred texts including the Valmiki Ramayan, and had the potential to disturb communal harmony and trigger social unrest in the region.

Who Is K.S. Bhagawan

K.S. Bhagawan is a retired professor and a prominent rationalist thinker in Karnataka, widely known for his critical readings of mainstream Hindu scriptures and traditional religious narratives. His interpretations have repeatedly sparked controversy, protests, and legal action across the state.

In earlier instances, Bhagawan drew widespread outrage by claiming that the Valmiki Ramayan contains references to Lord Ram and Sita consuming wine, and by arguing that Ram could not be regarded as an ideal ruler, citing episodes such as the exile of Sita and the killing of the Shudra ascetic Shambuka. He also attracted criticism after announcing his intention to burn selected pages of the Bhagavad Gita, alleging that certain passages portrayed women, Vaishyas, and Shudras in a discriminatory manner.

Pattern of Controversy

This is not the first time Bhagawan has faced legal action over his public statements on Hindu texts and deities. His remarks have consistently polarised opinion in Karnataka — drawing support from rationalist and Ambedkarite circles while triggering protests from Hindu organisations. The latest FIR represents a continuation of a long-running tension between his brand of religious criticism and the limits placed on such speech under Indian law.

As the investigation proceeds, the case is likely to reignite debate over the boundaries of free expression, religious sentiment, and the application of speech-related provisions under the newly enacted Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.