Temple priest arrested for making derogatory remark on Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah

Bengaluru: An assistant priest of a temple, who has now been dismissed from his role, was arrested for allegedly making derogatory remarks on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, police said on Saturday.

The Kengeri Police in southwest Bengaluru arrested Gururaj Achar. They registered a suo motu case after clippings of the video had gone viral, officials said.

The remarks were made on the state government's decision to invite Booker prize winner Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate this year’s Mysuru Dasara festival.

In a statement, the Sri Raghavendra Seva Samithi trust said that Achar was dismissed from his role as a priest.

"He is not a priest of Raghavendra Swamy Mutt, but an assistant priest of a Ganesha temple attached to it. He has since been dismissed," the committee said, adding that they strongly condemned his remarks.