An advocate was booked for attacking Kannada writer and rationalist K.S. Bhagavan at the City Civil Court Complex here on Thursday. The accused, Meera Raghavendra, confronted Prof. Bhagavan as he was leaving after attending a hearing in a metropolitan court and threw ink on his face.
She accused him of criticising Hinduism and said she was ready to face any action for her action. A gunman and a police constable escorted the writer out of the premises.
After a video clip of the attack started circulating on social media, Ms. Meera announced on Twitter that she had “taught him a lesson”. Prof. Bhagavan later filed a complaint with the Halasuru Gate police, based on which an FIR was registered against the lawyer. She was booked for wrongful restraint, assault and criminal intimidation.
A few months ago, Ms. Meera had filed a private complaint against Prof. Bhagavan for allegedly hurting religious sentiments. The writer’s lawyer, Surya Mukundaraj, said his client would also file complaints against Ms. Meera before the Bar Council and the Advocates Association.
Mr. Mukundaraj said: “Attacking Prof. Bhagavan on the court premises despite the presence of security shows that it was a premeditated act and there was a deep-rooted conspiracy that needed a detailed investigation.”
In the past, Prof. Bhagavan was provided security after he received threats to his life for his views on Hindu scriptures, notably on Lord Rama and the Bhagavad Gita, and a police case was registered against him for allegedly hurting religious sentiments.
More recently, the Public Library Book Selection Committee withdrew its recommendation to purchase writer Prof. Bhagavan’s 2018 book “Rama Mandira Eke Beda?” (Why there should be no Rama Mandira) after it was criticised by the right-wing on social media.
