Daijiworld Media Network- Bengaluru
Bengaluru, May 18: A shocking case of a derogatory remark targeting Kannadigas displayed on a hotel’s electronic signboard has stirred outrage in the city. Taking swift action, the Madiwala police have filed a suo motu case and arrested the manager of GS Suites, a hotel located near Koramangala in southeastern Bengaluru.
The controversial message appeared on the hotel’s Variable Message Display (VMD) board on Friday night and quickly caught public attention after a video of the message went viral on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) early Saturday morning.
Confirming the development, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) Sarah Fathima stated, "An FIR has been registered under Section 196 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with promoting enmity between different groups on the basis of religion, race, language, and similar grounds."
While the hotel’s manager has been taken into custody, the owner—who is currently abroad—has also been named in the FIR. Police have launched a thorough investigation and are questioning five staff members in connection with the incident.
“The hotel had apparently raised a complaint with the company responsible for manufacturing the display board after May 8, claiming that unauthorised messages were appearing on it. We have summoned representatives of the display board company to understand the system's functioning,” said the DCP.
Preliminary findings indicate that the display system was installed three years ago. However, it is still unclear how the offensive message got displayed. Authorities are currently examining electronic evidence, and a detailed investigation is expected to shed more light on the breach.
The derogatory remark has evoked strong reactions from citizens, with many demanding strict action against those responsible. Officials assured that anyone linked to the incident will be served legal notice and held accountable under the provisions of the new criminal code.
As the investigation unfolds, the incident has brought renewed focus on the misuse of public display systems and the need for robust security mechanisms to prevent such inflammatory messages in future.