Bengaluru: Atmananda Saraswati Swamiji, a Hindutva priest linked to the Samartha Sridharashrama Trust in Bengaluru, has been booked by police for delivering a hate speech targeting Muslims and Christians. The controversial remarks, captured in a viral video from a religious gathering held at his residence in Siriram Paradise Apartment, surfaced online on June 15, igniting widespread condemnation, reported the Siasat.
In the video, Swamiji is heard claiming, “Only Sanatana Dharma is the true religion in this country. All others are just groups.” More alarmingly, he declared, “Muslims and Christians must be eliminated using modern weapons,” and justified mass killings by saying, “There is no wrong in killing thousands if they go against Sanatana Dharma.”
He also invoked historical and mythological figures, urging Hindus to follow the example of warrior king Shivaji to “cleanse the nation” of so-called “anti-Dharma” forces. His statements were denounced by citizens and rights groups for inciting violence and spreading communal hatred under the guise of religious rhetoric.
The Bengaluru police registered a suo moto case on January 16 under Sections 196(1) (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion) and 351(2) (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Police clarified that the delay in filing the FIR was due to efforts to verify the authenticity of the video footage.
The official complaint was lodged by Head Constable Vinay Kumar AB, who noted that the priest’s speech had the potential to incite communal violence and disturb public peace. The FIR followed a social media uproar, with netizens demanding strict action against those using religious platforms to sow division.
The incident has reignited the public discourse around the misuse of religion to justify hate speech and has drawn attention to the urgent need for effective legal and social mechanisms to prevent such inflammatory acts.
