Subscribe
Follow TNM's WhatsApp channel for news updates and story links.
The Kerala Cyber Police arrested Hindutva ideologue TG Mohandas on Sunday, August 9, over his derogatory and violent comments about student protesters at the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) led protest at Jantar Mantar over the NEET paper leak.
Mohandas, a former head of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Intellectual Cell in Kerala and a political commentator, was arrested at his residence in Ernakulam district on Sunday evening. The investigation team has detained him to examine his digital equipment and to question him about the videos he uploaded to his YouTube channel, Pathrika. He will be presented before a magistrate on Monday, August 10.
The arrest comes a whole week after Mohandas was booked for the comments. The delay invited severe criticism, with Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala saying that the decision regarding an arrest should be taken by the investigating officer.
Mohandas uploaded multiple videos to his YouTube channel Pathrika, about the student protests. In two of the videos, he said the protesters at Jantar Mantar would have been shot and killed if he were in control. He also said the women who were part of the protest “liked” to be raped and would not even complain if it happened.
Following widespread outrage over his remarks, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) distanced itself from his statements, saying they were his personal opinion and that he holds no official rank in the organisation.
He was booked on July 29, after multiple complaints were filed against him. An FIR was registered under Sections 192 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause a riot) and 353(1)(b) (statement conducing to public mischief) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Section 66 (criminal offence of computer hacking/tampering) of the Information Technology Amendment Act, and Section 120(o) (causing nuisance and violation of public order) of the Kerala Police Act.
Meanwhile, BJP has termed the arrest discriminatory. BJP state general secretary S Suresh said that the police taking TG Mohandas into custody on a holiday was highly condemnable. He alleged that the arrest was a “drama” intended to divert public attention from the government’s failures in flood-relief operations and the protests by people in coastal areas.
