The late-night arrest of social worker and Hindu activist Puneeth Kerehalli by Bannerghatta police on January 16 has set off a fierce public backlash due to selective policing and an attempt to silence citizen-led scrutiny of suspected illegal Bangladeshi migrant settlements in the city. As per the Organiser reports, social media campaigns demanding his release intensified over the weekend due to the unlawful, politically motivated actions by the police department.
What led to police action
Kerehalli’s detention follows his recent visits, along with associates, to informal migrant shelters across Bengaluru. During these visits, he reportedly questioned Islamic residents about nationality and documentation and later circulated videos online demanding that the government act against alleged illegal immigration networks and unregulated settlements. Supporters claim he was highlighting a long-ignored issue that affects civic order, public resources, and security, and argue that the state should have responded with verification drives rather than criminalizing a Hindu activist.
The complaint alleges intimidation and communal provocation
The arrest reportedly stems from a complaint submitted to the Karnataka DGP seeking criminal proceedings against Kerehalli and his associates. The complaint alleges they entered settlements, demanded identity documents, intimidated workers, and used social media content to label Islamic migrant workers as Bangladeshis, potentially stoking communal tension. People of Kerehalli insist that these allegations be examined seriously, stressing that no individual has the authority to conduct on-the-spot document checks or publicly identify migrants without due process.
‘Disproportionate’ policing raises due-process questions
Even as the allegations are debated, the policing method has drawn sharp criticism. Hindu activists stated that taking a social activist into custody late at night, allegedly without prior notice, appears excessive when less coercive legal steps, such as issuing notices or seeking clarification, could have been used first. Legal observers and civil liberties advocates warn that such actions risk turning a public-policy debate into a law-and-order crackdown, especially when the issue raises concerns about governance failures rather than immediate violence.
Claims of exposing fake IDs and past detentions fuel outrage
Hindu activists have further amplified the issue on X and other platforms, alleging that Kerehalli previously helped expose illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators operating in Bengaluru using fake Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, bank accounts, and loans, and that his efforts contributed to the detention of 26 individuals in earlier episodes. They claim his arrest at around 10:30 PM is not merely routine policing but a warning shot to anyone bringing such cases into public view. The central question being raised repeatedly online is blunt: why is the state acting swiftly against the whistleblower narrative instead of visibly cracking down on forged-document networks?
Selective enforcement vs the core issue of verification
The controversy has reignited questions about why Bengaluru’s recurring concerns, unregulated settlements, fire and safety violations, poor living conditions, and claims of criminal activity linked to informal clusters have not been met with sustained, city-wide action. Activists ask why authorities appear to act swiftly against one individual while broader verification measures remain limited. The state must prove wrongdoing through a transparent legal process but also confront the underlying problem through consistent enforcement and documentation checks led by competent agencies.
This issue escalated after the demolition drive targeting an illegal settlement in Kogilu Layout, Bengaluru, where many occupants were allegedly found with forged documents. An investigation into their identity and native status is reportedly still underway.
But, allegedly, the Karnataka Congress government took a troubling step: instead of waiting for the verification process to conclude, they decided to allot houses under the Rajiv Gandhi Housing Scheme. Many genuine beneficiaries have been waiting for months, despite paying money and completing formalities, while the government appears ready to allot houses to those it claims were illegally settled and suspected of document fraud.
In such cases, if the government is seen as protecting or legitimizing these settlements, it is unlikely to appreciate what Puneeth Kerehalli has been doing, publicly exposing suspected illegal migrants and demanding action. They claim this is exactly why his activism has been met with police action instead of institutional support. The Congress government in Karnataka has reached its worst point ever. It appears to be doing everything that can be seen as supporting Islamist groups, infiltrators, and attackers. What have Hindus done wrong to be treated like this? Is speaking out and taking a stand against issues of national security itself a crime? If the authorities are not taking proper action and activists are not allowed to raise concerns, who will speak up against these illegal activities?
