Bengaluru Police have filed a First Information Report (FIR) against a popular Hindi news channel and its Consulting Editor, Sudhir Chaudhary. The complaint accuses them of spreading misleading information about a government subsidy program. The complaint was made by Shivakumar, an assistant administrator of the Karnataka Minorities Development Corporation (KMDC), and was filed at the Seshadripuram police station in the city.
According to the complaint, Sudhir Chaudhary featured an advertisement from the KMDC during his television program. The advertisement promoted subsidies for economically disadvantaged individuals from religious minority groups to purchase commercial vehicles. Chaudhary alleged that this scheme discriminated against Hindus, without acknowledging that individuals from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Backward Classes (BC) could access similar benefits through other government agencies.
The FIR was registered under sections 505 (Statements conducing to public mischief) and 153 A (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence) of the Indian Penal Code based on the complaint.
Chaudhary claimed on his show that the subsidies were only available to religious minorities in Karnataka and not Hindus. The FIR stated that this assertion “conspired to disturb communal harmony in the state.”
The KMDC issued a statement clarifying the details of the subsidy scheme. They explained that it provided a 50% subsidy or up to ₹3,00,000 to unemployed individuals for the purchase of autorickshaws, goods vehicles, and taxis, helping them become self-employed. Similar schemes were also available to backward classes, SCs, STs, and unemployed youth from the Hindu community through other development corporations.
The statement emphasized that these programs were not limited to the minority community but were open to other sections of society. It also noted that these schemes were initiated by the previous BJP government and were not exclusive to the Congress government.
Sudhir Chaudhary responded to the FIR by expressing his willingness to contest the allegations in court. He mentioned on social media that he was prepared for the legal battle.
Karnataka’s Minister of Information Technology and Biotechnology, Priyank Kharge, accused Chaudhary of intentionally spreading misinformation about government schemes. He indicated that legal action would be taken.
