Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (RJP)
Updated
Mangaluru, Sep 3: Prasad Attavar, the chief of Rama Sene was on Thursday September 3 detained by city crime branch (CCB) police of Mangaluru in connection to a Facebook post relating to the murder of Kannada scholar and researcher Prof M M Kalburgi.
He was later arrested by the Bunder police and booked under sections 153a and 506 of the IPC.
By night, he was produced in the residence of JMFC II judge and granted bail.
It is said that Prasad was first detained for interrogation by CCB and later handed over to Bunder police station who arrested him.
Sources said that some comments were posted in Prasad Attavar's name in a Facebook group supporting the murder of Prof Kalburgi, for which the Bunder police registered a suo motu case.
It is also said that messages related to M M Kalburgi were circulated in the social media carrying Prasad Attavar's photo. Police have been reportedly questioning him to ascertain whether the messages originated from him as his photograph was used.
Police sources said that during interrogation Prasad Attavar denied the allegations against him. He said that he has no connection to Kalburgi's murder and has not used Facebook from many days, sources said.
Speaking to media persons, he denied posting anything derogatory in Facebook and said, "I have stayed away from controversies for the last few years and in this case also I am not involved."
In 2009, Prasad Attavar had been arrested in connection to the pub attack. At that time, he was in Pramod Muthalik's Sri Rama Sene. He later broke away and formed his own Rama Sene.
It may be recalled that on August 31, the Bantwal police had arrested Bhuvith Shetty, said to be co-convenor of Bantwal Bajrang Dal unit, for posting a tweet 'justifying' Kalburgi's murder and warning that Prof K S Bhagwan would be 'next'. He was later released on bail.
Prof Kalburgi was shot dead at his residence in Dharwad on August 30. The police have released sketches of the suspects.