Accused tracked in Kullu, likely to be brought to Goa today; detention hours before bandh deadline
PANAJI
Four days after the Crime Branch took over the investigation into the controversial remarks made against Goa’s patron saint St Francis Xavier, police on Friday tracked down and detained self-styled spiritual thinker and YouTuber Gautam Khattar in Himachal Pradesh. The move came even as locals had threatened a Goa bandh, setting a deadline for his arrest.
Khattar, who had been absconding ever since a First Information Report was registered against him at Vasco police station, was detained in Kullu district after the Goa Police’s “specific inputs” and were shared with the Himachal Pradesh Police.
The timing of the arrest is likely to ease mounting public anger that had spilled onto the streets in Margao a day earlier, where the protesters demanded Khattar’s immediate arrest, the registration of a case against the event organisers and the removal of Minister Mauvin Godinho from office. The protesters warned of a Statewide Goa bandh if no action was taken by 5 pm on Friday.
In a statement issued late Friday, Superintendent of Police (Crime) Rahul Gupta said the detention followed swift coordination between the two state police forces.
“As promised by Goa CM (Pramod Sawant), prompt action has been taken in this case. Based on an input by Goa Police, the Himachal Pradesh Police has detained the main accused Gautam Khattar, in Kullu district this evening. A team of the Crime Branch will soon take over the custody of the accused and he will be brought to Goa,” the statement said.
Sources said the accused is expected to be brought to Goa as early as Saturday, most likely by flight if formalities are completed in time.
“If the required formalities for transporting the accused by air are completed within time, he is expected to be brought to Goa on Saturday. The Crime Branch team has already left for Kullu... Else, a transit remand will be obtained and he will be brought to Goa by train,” the source told The Goan.
Khattar during a Bhagwan Parshuram Janmotsav event held in Vasco last Saturday, made defamatory remarks on St Francis Xavier, prompting protest and an FIR against him for hate speech and creating communal discord. The programme was organised by the Sanatan Dharma Raksha Samiti, Mormugao.
Sources further said the breakthrough may have been aided by the arrest of Khattar’s brother, Madhav Khattar, two days earlier.
Officials indicated that Madhav, who was arrested in connection with the same case, had allegedly been handling Gautam’s professional schedule and routines. His interrogation is understood to have provided crucial leads about the accused’s movements and possible hideouts.
Officials also believe that the arrest may have narrowed Gautam’s legal options, particularly any move to seek anticipatory bail while on the run. A non-bailable warrant had already been issued against him.
Khattar has described himself as a “spiritual beat journalist” on social media and is the founder of Sanatan Mahasangh.
