Case Registered Against Artist, Temple Manager Over Mosque and Cross Paintings at Mysuru Temple
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New Delhi , October 21 : A controversy has erupted after images of a green mosque and a red cross were found painted on the inner wall of Sri Meenakshi Sametha Arkeshwara Temple in Hale Yedatore, near K.R. Nagar in Karnataka’s Mysuru district. The temple falls under the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Department.
According to reports, local residents objected to the depiction of a mosque and a cross on the temple wall, stating that the images hurt the sentiments of devotees and raised concerns about preserving the sanctity of the religious site.
The police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the paintings. The responsibility of those named in the complaint will be determined through the investigation.
The K.R. Nagar police have registered a case against artist Vinay and temple manager Arathi following objections to the paintings. The incident came to light after images of the paintings circulated on social media, prompting an official inquiry into how the religious symbols were painted inside the Hindu temple.
Following the objections, K.R. Nagar Tahsildar G. Surendramurthy visited the temple along with police personnel and inspected the site. The administration subsequently arranged for the paintings to be removed.
Breathtakingly idiotic idea of "Secular Liberalism" in modern inclusive Bharat where a temple MANAGED BY THE STATE is considered a canvas for inclusivity!
— Rahul Shivshankar (@RShivshankar) October 20, 2026
A case has been registered at the K R Nagar Police Station in Mysuru district against artist Vijay and temple manager Arathi… pic.twitter.com/wClbA7hR2H
Surendramurthy said officials conducted an inspection and prepared a panchanama (official record of the inspection). He confirmed that the images were erased from the wall. The police case was registered following a complaint lodged by the tahsildar against the artist and the temple manager. The investigation is expected to establish who proposed the designs, whether the paintings were authorised as part of renovation work and what roles the individuals named in the complaint played.
The incident has also drawn political reactions, with opposition BJP leaders questioning the decision to depict religious symbols associated with other faiths within the temple premises. Karnataka BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra criticised the incident and raised concerns over the preservation of Hindu temple traditions.