Bijapur, May 28 (Agencies): Former Union minister and BJP leader Basavanagowda Patil Yatnal has been arrested by the police for making inflammatory speeches during the celebration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony on Monday.
Two religious groups had clashed during the celebration. Karnataka Police have taken him into custody from a hideout in Kolhapur in neighbouring Maharashtra.
The police have registered four separate cases against him. Twenty six others have also been arrested for inciting communal violence.
The Northern Range Inspector General of Police (IGP) Bhaskara Rao has informed the media that the police have checked the video footage of the incident and have gathered incriminating evidence against Yatnal.
Section 144 has been imposed in Bijapur city in Mumbai-Karnataka region of the state.
Yatnal was a minister of state Railways and Textiles in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. He is a two-time MLA and a two-time MP.
Yatnal has been booked under sections 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 295 (injuring or defiling place of worship) and 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) of the IPC.