Bengaluru, September 5, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Karnataka Police are preparing to forward a Zero FIR registered in Bengaluru against Uttarakhand BJP president Mahendra Bhatt and other party members to the authorities in Uttarakhand for investigation into an alleged “purification ritual” carried out at a public ground following Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s visit.
The Zero FIR was registered at Vidhana Soudha Police Station based on a complaint filed by T.R. Ramappa, former vice-chairman of the Scheduled Tribes Department cell of the Adivasi Congress.
According to the complaint, a ritual described as “Shuddhikaran” was conducted at Ramlila Ground in Nainital district after Kharge addressed a public gathering there on August 8. The complainant alleged that the ritual conveyed the casteist notion that the venue had become “impure” after Kharge’s presence.
Kharge, who is also the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, belongs to a Scheduled Caste community.
The complaint names Bhatt and other BJP functionaries, alleging that they defended or endorsed the ritual through media statements. Ramappa contended that such statements amounted to public support for caste-based discrimination.
Following a legal opinion on the complaint submitted on August 31, Bengaluru Police registered the Zero FIR under provisions of the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955, the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Police officials said the FIR will be forwarded to Uttarakhand authorities, as the alleged incident took place there, for further investigation.
A Zero FIR allows a police station to register a case irrespective of territorial jurisdiction. It can subsequently be transferred to the police station having jurisdiction over the alleged offence.
The development came a day after Kharge wrote to Rajya Sabha Chairman J.P. Nadda, questioning the reported absence of an FIR over the alleged ritual. Kharge reportedly noted that 24 days had passed since the incident and recalled Nadda’s assurance that appropriate action would be taken.
The Karnataka Police’s action is expected to enable Uttarakhand authorities to take up the matter and investigate the allegations.
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