Bengaluru: Prominent Hindutva activist Puneeth Kerehalli and several associates have been charged by the police after a confrontation at a newly opened mall in northern Bengaluru.
The incident occurred at Phoenix Mall of Asia on December 23, where Kerehalli and his group objected to the presence of a Christmas tree, demanding the mall display a replica of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya instead. They also raised Jai Shree Ram slogans and contested the alleged Rs 200 entry fee, deeming it illegal.
Unable to engage with mall management, the group confronted security guards, nearly escalating to physical altercations. Police intervened, taking Kerehalli and associates to the Kodigehalli police station. A complaint by the mall’s security manager led to charges of unlawful assembly, giving death threats, and causing public nuisance against the five suspects.
Known for cow vigilantism and promoting Hindutva causes, Kerehalli faced controversy in April for his involvement in the death of a goods vehicle driver accused of transporting cows for slaughter. In August, he was booked under the Goonda Act, but his release was later ordered due to a lack of evidence. Currently facing at least 10 criminal cases, the 32-year-old activist remains a controversial figure in Bengaluru.
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