Bengaluru Police Register Zero FIR Over Alleged Purification Ritual After Mallikarjun Kharge Rally

Bengaluru Police have registered a Zero FIR against Uttarakhand BJP members and others following a complaint over an alleged “purification ritual” at Ramlila Ground in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a public rally (opens in a new tab)there.

The complaint was filed by T. R. Ramappa, former vice-chairman of the Adivasi Congress, at the Vidhana Soudha Police Station in Bengaluru on August 31. The Zero FIR was subsequently registered after the police sought a legal opinion.

Alleged Ritual After Kharge's Rally

According to the complaint, Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a public rally at Ramlila Ground in Haldwani on August 8. The complaint alleges that a “Shuddhikaran,” or purification ritual, was conducted at the same venue two days later.

The complainant has alleged that the ritual carried a caste-based and discriminatory message because Kharge belongs to a Scheduled Caste community. These are allegations made in the complaint and will be subject to investigation.

Mahendra Bhatt Named in Complaint

Uttarakhand BJP president and MP Mahendra Bhatt has also been named in the complaint. The complainant has alleged that Bhatt publicly defended or justified the ritual.

The case has been registered against Uttarakhand BJP members and others under relevant provisions of the Protection of Civil Rights Act, the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Kharge Had Earlier Sought Action

Before the FIR was registered, Mallikarjun Kharge had written to BJP leader J. P. Nadda, raising concerns about the alleged incident. Kharge pointed out that no FIR had been registered despite Nadda's assurance in the Rajya Sabha (opens in a new tab) that the matter would be investigated.

The registration of the Zero FIR now moves the matter into the investigation stage. Since the alleged incident took place in Haldwani, the Bengaluru Police are expected to forward the case to the appropriate authorities in Uttarakhand.