Raipur Police arrested 75-year-old Arun Pannalal, president of the Chhattisgarh Christian Forum, on Friday night, 7th August, over an objectionable social media post that police said hurt Hindu religious sentiments.
Pannalal had posted an abusive comment on a Facebook post shared by Hansraj Goyal related to Lord Shiva. He wrote, “Why is your Shivling always circumcised?”
Following the post, BJP spokesperson Amit Chimnani approached the Civil Lines police station and filed a written complaint. He also submitted the URLs and screenshots of the post and the comments to the police.
Police subsequently registered an FIR against Pannalal and Goyal under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The charges include promoting enmity between different groups, acts intended to outrage religious feelings and intentional insult with the intention of provoking a breach of peace.
Pannalal sent to judicial custody
Civil Lines police station inspector Yaman Dewangan said Pannalal was arrested on Friday night and produced before a magistrate on Saturday, 8th August. The court then sent him to judicial custody.
“We arrested the accused Friday night. On Saturday, he was produced before a magistrate court, where he was sent to judicial custody,” Dewangan said.
Central DCP Tarkeshwar Patel said the police began investigating the complaint after receiving information about the allegedly offensive post. The cyber cell and other police teams were involved in tracing the accused.
“A complaint was received at the Civil Lines police station regarding a post that hurt religious sentiments. Based on the complaint, a case was registered. The matter was taken up for investigation, and with the help of the cyber cell and other teams, search and technical tracking were carried out. In this case, the accused Arun Pannalal has been arrested…” Patel said.
Raipur, Chhattisgarh: Central DCP Tarkeshwar Patel says, “A complaint was received at the Civil Lines police station regarding a post that hurt religious sentiments. Based on the complaint, a case was registered. The matter was taken up for investigation, and with the help of the… pic.twitter.com/fpW11VOh6x
— IANS (@ians_india) August 8, 2026
CM Vishnu Deo Sai backs police action
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai also commented on the arrest, saying the remarks were made against Lord Shiva and the Shivling, which are revered in Sanatan Dharma.
“He made objectionable remarks about Lord Shiva and the Shivling, who are revered in our Sanatan Dharma. An FIR has been registered against him, he has been arrested, and action has been taken,” Sai said.
Raipur, Chhattisgarh: On police action against Arun Pannalal for remarks on Lord Shiva, CM Vishnu Deo Sai says, “He made objectionable remarks about Lord Shiva and the Shivling, who are revered in our Sanatan Dharma. An FIR has been registered against him, he has been arrested,… pic.twitter.com/A5VWco17nl
— IANS (@ians_india) August 8, 2026
Following the registration of the FIR, a group of Bajrang Dal workers gathered outside Pannalal’s residence in Raipur to protest. Police later intervened and dispersed the protesters.
