Vinay Gowda and Rajath Kishan, both famous for their appearance on Bigg Boss Kannada, were arrested by the Karnataka police under the Arms Act, 1959, after a complaint was filed against them for allegedly displaying a machete in a video.
According to police officials, an FIR was lodged after the two were seen in a viral video holding a machete, which they had posted as part of a social media reel. The video, where Gowda is seen walking in slow motion, holding a machete while mimicking the style of popular actor Darshan, was shared on an Instagram account called Bujji.
S Girish, DCP of West Bengaluru, confirmed the arrests, stating, “Big Boss Kannada fame Vinay Gowda and Rajath Kishan arrested under sections of Arms Act, 1959 (U/s-25(1B)(B)); Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 (U/s-270, r/w 3(5)) after a complaint was filed against both showing a machete in a video for reel.”
The police action was initiated after the video, which created a public disturbance, went viral. The complaint highlighted that carrying a machete in public and producing content that causes fear is an offense under the law. The police have registered a case under the Arms Act, citing that displaying weapons in public through social media reels is illegal and creates an atmosphere of fear.
This legal action has raised concerns about the use of social media platforms to showcase dangerous behavior that can lead to public unrest.