Offensive Message Against Kannadigas On Bengaluru Hotel Display Sparks Outrage; Police Detain Staff

A video showing an offensive and abusive message targeting Kannadigas displayed on the signboard of a hotel in Koramangala, Bengaluru, has gone viral on social media, triggering widespread public anger.

In response to a complaint filed by Kannada activists, Madiwala police swiftly intervened, detaining the hotel's manager and several staff members in connection with the incident, as reported by The Hindu.

Photo Credit: Pexels

The police have since removed the offensive message from the premises and launched a full investigation into how it came to be displayed.

The hotel's owner, who hails from Kerala and is currently based overseas, claimed the digital signage was tampered with by the individual responsible for creating the display.

"The person who designed the digital board altered the wording to produce the derogatory message," he stated.

Following the incident, the Madiwala police registered a suo motu case against the hotel staff under Section 196 of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with acts promoting enmity between different groups and prejudicial to public harmony.

A notice has also been issued to the owner, requiring him to appear for questioning.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the hotel had outsourced the management of its variable message display system to a Koramangala-based company under a three-year contract. The hotel had previously raised complaints about receiving inconsistent and unintended messages on the display.

A police official confirmed that the variable message system has been seized, and executives from the signage company have been summoned to explain how the system functions and how this specific offensive message was allowed to appear.