Hubli, February 6: Karnataka police arrested a 27-year-old man on Friday for inciting religious sentiments. Authorities reported that the individual posted a status on WhatsApp that allegedly offended Hindu religious feelings. The incident was recorded at the Old Hubli police station.
The accused has been identified as Dadapeer Hebballi, a resident of Noorani Flats in Hubli. Police took cognizance of the matter, filed a case, and arrested him, subsequently presenting him in court, which remanded him to judicial custody.
According to police, the accused, who works as an auto driver, shared a video on his WhatsApp status showing a YouTuber reciting a religious prayer in front of a Hindu deity. This video reportedly hurt Hindu sentiments and sparked widespread public outrage.
Following the backlash, police acted swiftly to prevent any law-and-order issues and initiated legal proceedings. Authorities confirmed that further investigations are ongoing.
It is noteworthy that in 2022, Hubli experienced significant violence over an inflammatory post. A crowd reacted violently to a young man’s provocative WhatsApp status, which featured a morphed image of a mosque with a saffron flag. This incident resulted in damage to public property and injuries to several police officers.
Forty individuals were arrested for the violence, security was heightened, and a curfew was imposed for four days.
Additionally, on February 5, 2026, Udupi police arrested two young men for a social media post that allegedly mocked an interfaith marriage and aimed to create discord among religious communities.
