Alappuzha, 17 April (H.S.):
The Cherthala police on Friday took two restaurant owners into custody following a controversy over a Vishu-themed advertisement that depicted Lord Krishna alongside kuzhimandhi, a popular non-vegetarian dish.
The accused have been identified as Arshad (36) and Shamnas (30), both natives of Cherthala and managing partners of Mehr Mandi & Grills, a restaurant known for its Arabic cuisine offerings. They have been booked under Section 192 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertains to wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause a riot.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), the controversy arose from a Vishu greeting allegedly shared online, carrying the message “Happy Vishu – Mehr’s Vishu wishes to everyone.” The post featured an image of kuzhimandhi placed in front of Lord Sree Krishna, which the complainant claimed hurt the religious sentiments of Hindu believers and had the potential to disturb public peace.
Police said the content was circulated via a WhatsApp status in the early hours of April 15, coinciding with Vishu celebrations in Kerala. The complaint was lodged by Dini A.P., who alleged that the act was deliberate and intended to provoke religious sentiments.
Following the backlash, another managing partner of the restaurant, Shameer, issued a clarification on social media expressing regret over the incident. He stated that the post was initially created as a festive greeting but was withdrawn internally after concerns were raised.
According to him, the image had been shared within a common group during internal discussions, and one member allegedly circulated it publicly due to a misunderstanding. Despite its removal, screenshots of the post were widely shared on social media, triggering the controversy.
“Even if it was unintentional, we sincerely apologise for causing mental distress to our brothers,” Shameer said in his statement, reiterating that there was no intention to offend any religious community.
He further added that the restaurant respects all religions and their associated celebrations, and described the situation as deeply distressing for the team. The restaurant has been operational for around one-and-a-half years.
Police said further investigation is underway.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman
