Bajrang Dal co-convenor Bhuvit Shetty was arrested in Buntwal, Mangalore, on Monday over posting threatening tweet about writer and rationalist KS Bhagwan.
Following the murder of Malleshappa M Kalburgi, Bhuvith Shetty allegedly took to Twitter on Sunday, saying that Bhagwan will be the next target for allegedly hurting religious sentiments.
"Then it was UR Ananthamurthy and now it is MM Kalburgi. Mock Hinduism and die a dogs death. And dear KS Bhagwan you are next," Shetty tweeted at 10:41am on 30 August. His Twitter handle was, however, deleted shortly after.
The Mangalore rural police on Monday registered a suo motu case against Shetty under IPC Sections 506 (criminal intimidation) and 153A (promoting enmity).
On Monday afternoon, Bhagwan opened up on the murder of former Kannada University Vice-Chancellor Malleshappa M Kalburgi after he received a threatening tweet from the Bajrang Dal leader.
Responding to the tweet from Bajrang Dal co-convener Bhuvith Shetty, Bhagwan said, "I got to know through the press, I feel sorry for such persons. At this juncture, I request the government to view this matter very seriously and round up the miscreants and take suitable action."
"Kalburgi was a great scholar of Karnataka, he used to say to me that we sail in the same boat," ANI quoted the writer as saying.
The Mysuru police have reportedly tightened security at Bhagwan's Kuvempunagar house in the wake of ongoing threats.
Kalburgi was shot dead by two unidentified men on Sunday morning. The police have been looking into the role of Hindutva terror outfits in the incident as several local saffron fronts had reportedly threatened him over his remarks on idol worship.
