Bengaluru: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president JP Nadda and the party’s IT-cell head Amit Malviya were summoned by Karnataka Police on Wednesday (May 8) in connection with a tweet posted by the party’s Karnataka unit X handle allegedly against the SC/ST community.

The leaders have been asked to appear before High Grounds police station in Bengaluru within the next seven days.

The notice issued by Karnataka Police stated that a person named Ramesh Babu had visited the police station on May 5 and had filed a complaint regarding a video that was posted from the X handle of BJP’s Karnataka.

The notice further stated that the video “has an intention to create feelings of enmity, hatred and ill-will against members of the SC/ST community”. Following this, an FIR was registered. An investigation is underway in connection with the case.

“You are hereby directed to appear before the undersigned investigation officer at 11.00am at High grounds police station within 7 days of receipt of this notice,” stated the notice.

Karnataka Police summons BJP National President JP Nadda and party's Amit Malviya before Bengaluru's High Grounds PS within 7 days in connection with a tweet posted by BJP Karnataka allegedly against SC/ST community pic.twitter.com/SfKe2gR2gh

— ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2024

The row erupted after the Karnataka unit of BJP posted an animated video on X on May 4. The video showcased Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah targeting the party over the reservation row.

The Election Commission of India wrote to the nodal officers of X on May 7, asking them to take down the “objectionable” social media post by the BJP’s Karnataka X handle immediately. “I am directed to inform that post of “BJP4Karnataka” is violative of extant legal framework (SIC),” the notice stated.

Voting for 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka was conducted in two phases. The first phase voting took place on April 26 whereas the second phase took place on May 7.