BENGALURU — The Vidhana Soudha Police Station in Bengaluru has formally registered a Zero FIR against members and office-bearers of the Uttarakhand Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)—including state BJP President Mahendra Bhatt—following a complaint regarding an alleged “purification ritual” (Shuddhikkaran) performed at Haldwani’s Ramlila Ground after a public address by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.
The legal action, initiated by T. R. Ramappa, former vice-chairman of the Adivasi Congress (ST Department), asserts that the August 10 ritual was a deliberate act designed to project the venue as “impure” owing to Kharge’s Dalit identity. Following formal legal evaluation, the zero FIR is being transferred to the Haldwani Kotwali Police Station in Nainital District, Uttarakhand, for jurisdictional investigation.
Statutory Charges & Procedural Routing
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Jurisdictional Transfer: Registered at Vidhana Soudha Police Station, Bengaluru, under Zero FIR provisions following legal consultation on September 4, 2026; primary investigation files routed to Haldwani, Uttarakhand.
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Accused Entities: Uttarakhand State BJP functionaries and state BJP President Mahendra Bhatt (named for publicly defending and justifying the ceremony).
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Invoked Statutory Provisions:
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SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989: Section 3(1)(u) for actions intent on promoting feelings of enmity, hatred, or ill-will against members of Scheduled Castes.
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Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955: Sections 7(1)(c), 7(1)(d), and 7(1)(e) regarding the unlawful enforcement of disabilities linked to untouchability.
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Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023: Section 196(1)(b) for acts prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony and promoting group enmity on caste grounds.
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Inter-State & Parliamentary Dimensions
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Multi-State Legal Filings: The Zero FIR in Karnataka represents one of at least eight separate police filings registered across various state jurisdictions concerning the Haldwani incident.
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Parliamentary Directives: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge formally addressed the incident in the Rajya Sabha and issued a letter to Leader of the House J. P. Nadda, citing constitutional violations and drawing parallels to historical anti-untouchability movements.
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Counter-Litigation Context: Haldwani Police previously registered an FIR against Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi following complaints alleging he gave a casteist interpretation to what organizers defined as a routine religious ritual—a charge Congress leadership characterized as an attempt to divert attention from the primary offense.
