Udupi Police book Dr. Kirtan Upadhya for Islamophobic tweet
Udupi: A criminal case has been filed against Dr. Kirtan Upadhya, a laparoscopy surgeon at private hospital in Brahmavara following allegations of posting derogatory and divisive remarks against Islam and Muslims on social media. The incident led to widespread outrage after screenshots of his comments surfaced online.
Dr. Keerthan Upadhya, a laparoscopic and laser surgeon, reportedly replied to a tweet on Saturday, July 13, stating "Muslim Community" in response to a question asking, "If you could delete one thing from the planet today - What would it be?"
The tweet quickly attracted widespread attention and criticism from netizens, who condemned the doctor's Islamophobic remark. Many expressed shock and disappointment that such a statement could come from a medical professional. Screenshots of the tweet were widely circulated online, amplifying the backlash. The inflammatory nature of his comment sparked calls for legal action, with many social media users demanding intervention from authorities, including the Karnataka DGP.
Netizens also claimed that Dr. Upadhya had earlier made similar Islamophobic tweets and shared screenshots of the similar posts degrading Islam made from the same handle.
ALSO READ: Islamophobic post purportedly made by reputed Udupi doctor stirs controversy
In response, a case was filed against Dr. Upadhya after a complaint was given by Sub-Inspector (Wireless) Ajmal Ibrahim EA, who is serving as the head of Udupi District Police's Social Media Monitoring Cell.
In his complaint he had requested for proper legal action against Dr. Kirtan Upadhya, who operates under the account 'Lonely Stranger’ for attempting to foment religious hatred and jeopardize communal harmony through derogatory and provocative comments aimed at the Muslim community.
A case was registered against Dr. Upadhya under 196, 353 sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for attempting to disrupt communal harmony and promote animosity between religious communities.
Dr. Upadhya later claimed that his account was hacked and he subsequently deleted the controversial post. However, police sources confirmed that no formal complaint of hacking was filed by Dr. Upadhya.
Mohammed Zubair, co-founder of the fact-checking organization Alt News, pointed out that Dr. Upadhya had deleted the controversial tweet and locked his Twitter profile, preventing access to his account and tweets. He also pointed out that the handle name was changed from @LonelyStranger_ to @Stranger_Solo.
The investigation into the matter is ongoing.
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Mandatory ID cards in autos to be strictly enforced again in Bengaluru
Bengaluru: The Bengaluru Traffic Police have decided to strictly enforce the rule mandating the display of identification cards in autorickshaws, following rising complaints of fare refusal, overcharging and lack of driver identification.
In a recent circular, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Karthik Reddy directed traffic officers to register cases on a daily basis against autorickshaw drivers who fail to display ID cards. Police said the move is aimed at improving public safety measure, The New Indian Express reported on Saturday.
The circular follows repeated complaints from citizens, flagging issues like non-wearing of uniforms, excessive fares, refusal to go on hire and absence of display cards.
The traffic police said the display card helps passengers identify drivers and improves a sense of security, particularly for women commuters.
Karthik Reddy reportedly said that the rule is not new, but is being enforced more rigorously now with women’s safety in mind.
“The display card creates an added layer of accountability. It makes regulation easier and helps passengers feel safer,” Karthik Reddy said. The move will also help curb the operation of autos without valid permits, including those driven by operators from other districts, he said.
Reddy said the latest display cards include QR codes linked to verified driver details on the ASTraM app, which would further strengthen accountability and public confidence. In 2025, Bengaluru Traffic Police booked 4,669 cases for refusal to go on hire and 4,023 cases for demanding excess fares.
But the renewed enforcement brought to the surface long-standing concerns among drivers. Several auto drivers alleged that they are asked to pay for display cards that are meant to be free.
Denying these allegations, Reddy said no fee is being collected. “They asked for money for something that is supposed to be free,” he said. The Autorickshaw Drivers’ Union (ARDU) also echoed the complaint. Its general secretary, D Rudramurthy, said drivers reported being charged amounts ranging from ₹100 to ₹500.
Deepu, an autorickshaw driver, said he stopped renewing his display card after being asked to pay extra. “They asked for money for something that is meant to be free,” he said.
