A 32-year-old man from Bagalkot district has been arrested for allegedly distributing a morphed image of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on social media. 

Khalil, who runs a footwear shop in Yadahalli village in Bilagi taluk was arrested on Sunday, and sent to judicial custody until March 31 for allegedly offending religious sentiments.

An RSS worker named Sathish lodged a complaint with the Kerur police station. “He said that Khalil had distributed a doctored picture of Bhagawat on social media. He had also distributed pictures of a burqa-clad woman in place of Bharat Mata,” said Yashas, sub-inspector at Kerur police station.

He added that Khali had neither created nor edited the image. The police are yet to ascertain whether he belongs to any organization.

The image in question had morphed an image of Bhagwat’s upper body with the body of a woman dressed in tight pants and high heels. The slogan on the image was a mix of Hindi and English, and read: “Sangh badal raha hai, only look. RSS mukt Bharat” meaning - the Sangh is changing, but only its appearance. RSS-free Bharat.