MANGALORE: Panambur police picked up B.V. Seetharam, journalist, and his wife Rohini from their house at Kulai on Saturday night. They were produced before the jurisdictional magistrate at his residence who remanded them in judicial custody. The judge has directed the authorities to produce both of them before open court on Monday for further hearing.
The authorities were acting on a complaint from K. Rajavarma Ballal, president of Karnataka Bus Operators' Federation and leader of Jain community, for the alleged prejudicial articles written by Mr. Seetharam in his column "Suttha Mutha" against Jainism and Jain muni Tarun Sagar in the eveninger Karavali Ale.
Mr. Ballal contended that these articles offended the sensibilities of the Jains, the police said.
B.S. Lokesh Kumar, Additional Superintendent of Police, said Mr. Seetharam and Ms. Rohini, directors of Chitra Publications Pvt. Ltd. which published the eveninger, had been charged under sections 153 (A), 153 (B) and 295 (A) of Indian Penal Code. The sections of IPC relate to promoting enmity between two religious groups, outraging religious feelings of a community and assertions prejudicial to national integration.
