After a video went viral on social media showing a person desecrating a Tulsi plant located near the Guruvayur temple in Kerala, some members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) performed purification puja of the Tulsi plant. The Tulsi plant which is considered sacred by Hindus was desecrated by a person identified as Abdul Hakeem. Following the incident, a purification ceremony was performed by VHP Joint Secretary Anoop, members of Hindu Aikya Vedi, members of the Temple Protection Committee and local devotees.
Sanctity Restored, Faith Reignited! 🚩
— महारथी-മഹാരഥി (@MahaRathii) January 16, 2025
After the vile desecration of the sacred Tulsi altar in a Hindu establishment near the revered Guruvayur Temple by Abdul Hakeem, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) took a decisive step to restore its sanctity.
A powerful Tulsi Puja was… pic.twitter.com/yqvWSHBjYy
The incident came to light after a video went viral on social media. The video showed Abdul Hakeem plucking out his pubic hair and putting it on the Tulsi plant as he walked past it. As soon as the video surfaced, widespread social media outrage followed. People started reposting and sharing the video expressing anger over the act. Subsequently, a complaint was filed by Hindu Aikya Vedi, a Hindu nationalist organisation in Kerala which led to Hakeem’s arrest.
This guy is Paradise Restaurant owner Hakeem.
— Incognito (@Incognito_qfs) January 15, 2025
He threw his pubic hair in sacred Tulsi plant which is near Guruvayur Temple.
Then these people ask why they are not allowed to setup shops near Mandirs & denied entry in Hindu events like Kumbh Mela. pic.twitter.com/UwDvPc6u6t
Responding to the matter in a Facebook post, the Thrissur City police claimed that Abdul Hakeem has allegedly been suffering from a mental illness for the past 25 years and is undergoing treatment. The police warned against sharing the video and said that legal action would be taken against defaulters. “A video of a young man in Guruvayur is seen circulating in social media in a way that creates communal rivalry. During the investigation, it was learned that the young man had a mental disorder and was under treatment for the past 25 years. Those who share the video and share posts related to it in a manner that creates communal rivalry will be subject to strict legal action”, read the post.
According to reports, this is not the first time that Abdul Hakeem, owner of National Paradise Restaurant, faced allegations. In a raid conducted in his restaurant in 2017, Health authorities seized stale and spoiled food from his restaurant. He was also accused of installing hidden cameras in his hotel’s restrooms which resulted in complaints being filed against him at the Guruvayur police station. The matter was reportedly suppressed due to political intervention.
Hakeem, as per reports, has also been accused of pelting stones at busses carrying Ayyappa devotees.
