FIR Filed Against CET Exam Official In Karnataka's Shivamogga For Allegedly Asking Students To Remove 'Janeu' (Video)

Bengaluru: An FIR has been filed against the CET exam conducting officer at Adichunchanagiri School in Sharavathinagara in Karnataka's Shivamogga district, following a controversy over reports that students appearing for the Karnataka Common Entrance Test (CET) were allegedly asked to remove their sacred thread (Janeu), police said on Friday.

According to officials, the FIR has been filed under sections 115(2), 299, 351(1), and 352, read with section 3(5) of the BNS, 2023, based on a complaint lodged by a person identified as Nataraj Bhagavath.

Authorities have initiated an investigation into the matter to determine the circumstances under which students were allegedly instructed to remove religious symbols.

Karnataka - A Brahmin Student made to cut his Janeu and thrown in dustbin before taking CET exam!

One of the parent is heard asking “Do they have the courage to do something similar with student of other religion?”pic.twitter.com/lk2NXNEk2t

— Shilpa (@shilpa_cn) April 17, 2025

'Very Unfortunate,' Says Karnataka Higher Education Minister Dr MC Sudhakar

Reacting to the incident, Karnataka Higher Education Minister Dr MC Sudhakar termed it "very unfortunate" and confirmed that such complaints were also received from an exam centre in Bidar. However, he clarified that the examination process went smoothly at most other centres across the state.

"This incident is very unfortunate. It happened not only in Shivamogga but also in Bidar. Everywhere else, the process went smoothly except for two centres. The people responsible for checking or frisking for any gadgets, or even for whatever protocols were followed, were never instructed to check or remove such items," he said while speaking to ANI.

#WATCH | Bengaluru | On students reportedly made to remove sacred thread (Janeu) at the Karnataka CET exam centre, Karnataka Minister Dr MC Sudhakar says, "This incident is very unfortunate, which has happened not only in Shivamogga but also in Bidar. Everywhere it went on very… pic.twitter.com/h5XLjnoqtt

— ANI (@ANI) April 18, 2025

Shivamogga, Karnataka: Victim student Abhigyan’s uncle says, "My nephew went to the Adi Chunchungiri PU College for the CET exam, where the guard asked him to remove the sacred thread (janeu) and the raksha sutra he was wearing. He firmly said that he would rather not take the… pic.twitter.com/NZks1Ke1aJ

— IANS (@ians_india) April 18, 2025

"This was not mentioned to be checked or removed to write the exam. We respect all religions, their faith, and their deeds... We are not going to accept this, and we are going to take action...," he added.

The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA), which oversees the Common Entrance Test (CET), has yet to issue an official statement.

More details are awaited.

(Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)