Indian film director mocks Hindu Gods, sacred texts Ramayana and Mahabharata
Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India 
8 April, 2025
Case Summary
A member of a regional political party in Andhra Pradesh has filed a police complaint against filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma, accusing him of hate speech and deliberately hurting Hindu religious sentiments through content shared on social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube. The complaint was lodged by Rashtriya Praja Congress president and High Court advocate, Meda Srinivas, at the Three Town Police Station. He submitted video clips and social media posts as supporting evidence. Addressing the media, Srinivas described Varma’s posts as “barbaric,” stating they had not only deeply offended many but also posed a serious threat to social harmony and societal unity. He further alleged that Varma had mocked Hindu deities and sacred epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Calling the content inflammatory and derogatory, Srinivas urged the police to register a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Srinivas emphasised that Varma’s online activity had crossed the limits of freedom of expression, venturing into territory that could incite communal tensions and promote societal division.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the hate tracker under the primary category 'Hate speech against Hindus'. Under this, two sub-categories have been selected. The first is- Subversion of scriptures. Subverting the religious scriptures of Hindus has particularly devastating consequences. Subversion of the scriptures of Hindus is often done to justify or promote hatred, discrimination, or violence against specific individuals or groups of Hindus. Religious scriptures are often nuanced and those who harbour religious animosity towards Hindus often misquote or misrepresent the scripture to legitimise their animosity and hate towards the faith and its adherents. Any such misquoting of scriptures or subversion to justify hate, violence and discrimination against Hindus owing to religious animosity is hate speech and is categorised as such. The second sub-category selected under the above-mentioned prime category is- Anti-Hindu slurs, mocking faith. Anti-Hindu slurs and the deliberate mocking of the Hindu faith owing to religious animosity involve the usage of derogatory terms, stereotypes, or offensive references to religious practices, symbols, or figures. One of the common anti-Hindu slurs used against Hindus is “cow-worshipper” and “cow piss drinker”. The intention of using this term is to demean and mock Hindus as a group and their religious beliefs since Hindus consider the cow holy. Additionally, some symbols and the slurs attached to them have a historical context that exacerbates the insult, hate, stereotyping, dehumanisation and oppression against Hindus. Cow worship has been used for centuries to denigrate Hindus, insult their faith and oppress Hindus specifically as a religious group. There has been overwhelming documentation about how cow slaughter has been used to persecute Hindus with cow meat being thrown in temples and places of worship. There has also been overwhelming documentation where cow meat (beef) has been force-fed to Hindus to either forcefully convert them to Islam or denigrate their faith. Apart from cow worship, the Swastika – which holds deep religious significance for the Hindus – has also been misinterpreted and distorted to use as a slur against Hindus. Similarly, the worship of the Shivling has been used by supremacist ideologies and religions to denigrate Hindus owing to religious animosity. Such slurs and denigration stem out of inherent animosity and hate towards Hindus and their faith, therefore, it is categorised as hate speech targeted at Hindus specifically owing to their religious identity. This case constitutes a clear instance of hate crime against Hindus and rightly warrants inclusion in the Hinduphobia tracker under the primary category of Hate speech against Hindus. The first sub-category, Subversion of scriptures, is applicable as the filmmaker allegedly mocked revered Hindu epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata—texts that hold deep spiritual, cultural, and historical significance for the Hindu community. By distorting or ridiculing these sacred scriptures in a derogatory manner, the accused not only disrespects the beliefs of millions but also attempts to undermine the sanctity of Hindu traditions and practices. The second sub-category, Anti-Hindu slurs, mocking faith, is relevant as the individual’s social media content reportedly included inflammatory and demeaning language aimed at Hindu deities and religious icons. Such language fosters contempt, spreads misinformation, and reinforces prejudices against Hindus, contributing to a hostile social environment. These actions are not merely offensive but are designed to provoke, ridicule, and marginalise a religious community, thereby disrupting communal harmony and inciting animosity. It is important to note that this is not an isolated act of expression but part of a disturbing trend where influential figures use their platforms to attack Hindu sentiments with impunity. When religious beliefs are publicly mocked and sacred symbols defamed, it amounts to more than mere criticism—it reflects targeted animus that seeks to delegitimise an entire faith. Therefore, this case is a textbook example of Hinduphobic hate speech and fully justifies its classification as a hate crime against the Hindu community.
Case Status
Complaint filed
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Others
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
