In yet another case, the cybercrime police have booked cow vigilante and right wing activist Puneeth Kerehalli and his accomplices for allegedly spreading false information against Director-General and Inspector-General of Police (DG&IGP) M.A. Saleem.
The case pertains to an incident in which Kerehalli and his accomplices allegedly visited a settlement near Swetha Farm in Kemapapura, close to Soladevanahalli in north Bengaluru, and claimed that Bangladeshi nationals had taken shelter there.
According to the FIR, Kerehalli and his group alleged that Bangladeshi people had been trafficked and brought to the location, which belonged to one Sakina Tasmeen. The group further claimed that the property was a ‘benami’ holding of Mr. Saleem.
“The group went live on social media and falsely stated that Bangladeshi Muslims had taken shelter in Bengaluru. The claims made by the group are provocative in nature and could create social and communal unrest,” the complainant stated.
The incident came to light when the social media monitoring cell of the Bengaluru City Police came across the video on Facebook and other social media platforms on January 23. Subsequently, a police officer filed a complaint at the City Cybercrime Police Station.
The police have invoked relevant sections of the IT Act and sections 196 (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony) and 353 (statements conducing to public mischief) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
A senior police officer said that the investigation is ongoing. This is the third such case against Kerehalli in the last ten days. Earlier, Kerhalli had 13 cases against him in the city, according to the BCP.
Published – January 25, 2026 10:24 pm IST
