The case was registered against Abdul Hakeem, 39, principal of Shaheen PU College in Chitguppa, on August 17. The complaint was filed by Hiroba Gowli, whose son Sagar Gowli is a second-year pre-university student at the institution.
The dispute centres on events at the college on August 15, when students and staff gathered for Independence Day celebrations that included the hoisting of the national flag and a cultural programme. After the programme ended, a group of students allegedly raised patriotic slogans while leaving the campus.
The complaint alleges that Hakeem stopped the students at around 10 am and told them not to repeat the slogans on the college premises. He is accused of telling them that the expressions were associated with a particular religious community and would not be permitted at the institution.
Police have not independently established the allegations, and the accusations contained in the complaint remain subject to investigation. The principal’s detailed response to the claims was not immediately available.
The complaint also alleges that the principal discriminated between Hindu and Muslim students and behaved in a manner that could create hostility between groups. Another allegation states that a student was kept inside a room for close to an hour and subjected to mental harassment.
Chitguppa police registered Crime No. 97/2026 under Sections 126, 352 and 353 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Section 126 deals with wrongful restraint, while Section 352 covers intentional insult intended to provoke a breach of peace. Section 353 concerns statements considered capable of causing public mischief.
The inclusion of those provisions means investigators will have to determine not only what was said and done at the college but also whether the alleged conduct satisfies the legal ingredients required for the offences. Registration of a first information report marks the beginning of the criminal investigation and does not establish guilt.
The controversy drew protesters to the college and the Chitguppa police station on Thursday. Members of Hindu organisations demanded action against the principal and sought an investigation into the treatment of the students.
Police are expected to record statements from students, teachers and others present during the Independence Day programme. Investigators may also examine any available CCTV footage or mobile-phone recordings to establish the sequence of events and verify competing accounts.
The case has attracted attention because the slogans at the centre of the dispute carry a prominent place in public and political discourse. “Vande Mataram”, meaning “I bow to thee, Mother”, comes from Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s 19th-century novel Anandamath and became closely associated with the freedom movement. Its first two verses were later accorded the status of the national song.
“Bharat Mata Ki Jai”, broadly translated as “Victory to Mother India”, has also been widely used at political gatherings, public ceremonies and patriotic events. Arguments over whether such slogans should be compulsory, voluntary or restricted in particular settings have periodically generated political and legal disputes.
Courts have generally distinguished between voluntary patriotic expression and compelled expression. Constitutional protections for freedom of speech and conscience remain central when disputes arise over patriotic practices, while educational institutions also retain authority to maintain discipline provided their actions comply with the law.
Karnataka has witnessed several disputes over religious identity and expression in educational institutions over the past few years, making allegations involving students particularly sensitive. Authorities have repeatedly faced the task of balancing institutional discipline, public order, religious freedom and individual expression.
