Mopa: Goa Police on Sunday brought right-wing speaker Gautam Khattar to the state from Himachal Pradesh after securing his transit remand in connection with a case over alleged derogatory remarks against St Francis Xavier, officials said.
A Crime Branch team arrived at Manohar International Airport with the accused on Sunday afternoon. Khattar had been arrested at Kullu in Himachal Pradesh on Friday following a manhunt launched by Goa Police after an FIR was registered earlier this week.
The case stems from a video that surfaced on last Saturday , in which Khattar allegedly made objectionable remarks against St Francis Xavier.
The clip went viral on social media, triggering widespread outrage across the coastal state. Complaints were subsequently filed by various groups, following which Goa Police registered an FIR on April 21 under charges related to promoting enmity and hurting religious sentiments.
The remarks drew sharp condemnation from several organisations, including the Association of All Goa Muslim Jamats, as well as members of the Christian community, who demanded strict action against the speaker.
The FIR was filed against Khattar at Vasco police station in South Goa from where the case was transferred to the Crime Branch, after multiple complaints were filed across police stations including that at Margao, Panaji, Vasco, Anjuna, Old Goa and others.
Acting on the FIR, a team of the Crime Branch tracked down Khattar in Himachal Pradesh and arrested him on April 25. After completing transit remand formalities, he was brought to Goa on Sunday.
Police said the accused will be produced before a local court, which will decide on his custody, while further investigation into the case is underway.
The crime branch has already arrested Madhav Khattar from Dehradun holding him as a co-accused in the crime.
