PANAJI
With the Crime Branch (CB) taking over the custody of Gautam Khattar, the YouTuber who went into hiding after the controversy over his remarks on Goa’s patron saint, St Francis Xavier, the sleuths are expected to also probe his earlier public speeches and past controversies.
Official sources told The Goan that they are likely to examine whether Khattar’s past speeches, delivered across several States, establish a larger context relevant to the present case and any future legal proceedings.
Khattar, founder of Sanatan Mahasangh, known as a hardline Hindutva preacher and the one who describes himself as a “spiritual beat journalist”, has in the past drawn criticism from civil rights groups and opposition voices over alleged inflammatory and divisive speeches.
Several of his public addresses, delivered in States including Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, have previously triggered controversy for remarks directed at religious minorities.
Sources said the CB teams are also likely to examine recordings and transcripts of Khattar’s earlier speeches to assess his public conduct and determine whether any of the statements may have attracted provisions of criminal law relating to hate speech, promotion of enmity, or acts prejudicial to communal harmony.
Among those speeches are remarks reportedly made at public gatherings in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra in 2024 and 2025, where Khattar is alleged to have called for social and economic boycotts of minority communities and urged followers to remain prepared in defence of Sanatan Dharma. Some of those speeches had previously circulated widely on social media and drew sharp criticism from community leaders.
The possibility of seeking restrictions on Khattar’s future entry into Goa, including through preventive legal measures, is also being discussed by top government officials, though a decision is yet to be taken.
“Such a move, if pursued, would likely depend on the outcome of the ongoing investigation and any subsequent orders from the court or district administration,” the official added.
The State has so far not issued any official statement linking Khattar’s earlier speeches directly to the present case, nor have Khattar or his representatives responded to the latest developments.
