Several pro-Hindu activists, lawyers, and organisations nationwide step out in support of Gautam Khattar
Several devout Hindus, prominent personalities, and pro-Hindu organisations have strongly condemned the unjust arrest of pro-Hindu activist Gautam Khattar and his brother. Many have voiced their deep outrage over this blatant curbing of freedom of speech, highlighting that a citizen is being penalised by the state machinery merely for stating well-documented historical facts.
The issue
The incident stems from an event on Saturday, 18 April 2026, when during a programme for Bhagwan Parshuram Jayanti in Vasco, South Goa, Gautam Khattar made an allegedly objectionable remark regarding the 16th-century Jesuit missionary St. Francis Xavier. As soon as his video went viral on social media, protests erupted across the state and complaints were registered at multiple locations. It is being said that whilst speaking at the programme, Gautam Khattar allegedly described Francis Xavier as a terrorist, a cruel and barbaric ruler, and accused him of carrying out forced conversions.
Consequently, the Goa Police registered an FIR against Gautam Khattar on charges of hurting religious sentiments. When the police went to his house to apprehend him, and found him absent, they arrested his brother Madhav Khattar from Haridwar, accusing him of playing a role in drafting and disseminating the speech. Later, Gautam Khattar was arrested from Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, and brought to Goa for further investigation.
Organisers and local politicians distance themselves from Khattar
Tragically, despite the Parshuram Jayanti event being initially attended by some state politicians and local organisers, they swiftly caved to pressure upon witnessing the minority outrage. Distancing themselves from Khattar, they issued apologies and left the Hindu leader to face the disproportionate police crackdown alone.
Prominent voices condemn the arbitrary arrests
After his arrest by the Goa Police, Gautam Khattar is receiving immense support from various quarters across the country, primarily because the statements he made in his speech are backed by historical proof. Several authors have exposed the forced conversion agenda of Francis Xavier and the atrocities committed by him against Hindus. Consequently, several prominent legal and media personalities have united on social media to condemn the arrests:
Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain slams Goa Police’s ‘unusual aggression’
Supreme Court advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain has tweeted in support of Gautam Khattar: “It is unfortunate that Gautam Khattar and his younger brother, Madhav Khattar, have been arrested in hate speech case by the Goa Police, who appear to have acted with unusual speed and aggression. Many Hindus believe they are not criminals but have spoken what they see as the truth. The Inquisition remains a dark chapter of Goa’s history that deserves discussion even today. Everyone should speak up on this issue. We cannot accept such high-handed actions.”
It is unfortunate that @GautamKhattar and his younger brother, Madhav Khattar, have been arrested in hate speech case by the Goa Police, who appear to have acted with unusual speed and aggression. Many Hindus believe they are not criminals but have spoken what they see as the… pic.twitter.com/E0IkkyO1sB
— Vishnu Shankar Jain (@Vishnu_Jain1) April 25, 2026
Sanatan Sanstha condemns unjust actions of Goa Police
Shri. Abhay Vartak, Spokesperson of Sanatan Sanstha, has issued a strong condemnation of the Goa Police, terming the arrest of Gautam Khattar’s younger brother as a blatant “misuse of the law.” In a public statement’, Shri. Vartak highlighted the sheer injustice of the police action, noting that after failing to find the pro-Hindu YouTuber at his Uttarakhand residence, the police apprehended his 18-year-old brother, Madhav Khattar—a first-year pre-LLB student. Madhav was flown to Goa and arrested on the absurd accusation of drafting his brother’s speech.
सनातन संस्था गोवा पुलिस (@Goa_Police) का निषेध करती है✊
यूट्यूबर और हिंदुत्व विषयों के वक्ता @GautamKhattar जी पर क्रिश्चियन पंथ की भावनाओं को ठेस पहुँचाने का आरोप गोवा पुलिस द्वारा लगाया गया है। उन्हें गिरफ्तार करने के लिए गोवा पुलिस उत्तराखंड पहुँची, लेकिन वे घर पर नहीं मिले।… pic.twitter.com/Jf9iYQsaE0
— Sanatan Sanstha (@SanatanSanstha) April 24, 2026
Shri. Vartak pointed out the glaring double standards of the administration, stating that while the police acted swiftly on complaints of hurting Christian sentiments, zero arrests have been made despite concrete evidence being submitted to the police station regarding Christians posting objectionable content about Hindu Deities. Calling the police action reprehensible, he urged the Goa Government to abide by the law rather than commit such injustice, and made a direct appeal to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to urgently intervene in this serious matter.
Goa Police or Xavier’s private army? – Suresh Chavhanke
गोवा पुलिस गोवा सरकार की है या झेवियर की अत्याचारी फौज ?
वक्ता गौतम खट्टर पर फ़र्ज़ी मुकदमा किया, उससे भी ख़तरनाक, वह घर पर नहीं मिले तो उनके 18 वर्षीय छोटे भाई माधव खट्टर को उठा कर ले गई?
किसी आतंकवादी की तरह उनके चेहरे को काला नक़ाब लगा कर कोर्ट में पेश किया।
क्या गोवा में… pic.twitter.com/yuNwRxvIts— Dr. Suresh Chavhanke “Sudarshan News” (@SureshChavhanke) April 23, 2026
Sudarshan channel’s Suresh Chavhanke has also protested the unjust arrest of Gautam and his 18-year-old brother. He expressed dismay at the action of presenting Gautam Khattar in court with his face covered with a black cloth like a terrorist. Additionally, he questioned the Goa Chief Minister over his silence on this issue.
Advocate Amita Sachdeva condemns violation of SC guidelines
🚨 ARBITRARY ARREST OF GAUTAM KHATTAR JI & HIS BROTHER – BLATANT VIOLATION OF SUPREME COURT GUIDELINES! 🚨
Goa Police has arrested Gautam Khattar ji (@GautamKhattar) and his brother without any prior notice. Under what legal provision was this done?
This is a clear and direct…
— Amita Sachdeva, Advocate (@SachdevaAmita) April 25, 2026
Advocate Amita Sachdeva stated that the arbitrary arrest of Gautam Khattar ji and his brother a clear and direct violation of the Supreme Court’s binding guidelines, which mandate that the police must issue notice under Section 35(3) BNSS before arresting.
Anand Ranganathan extends support
Analyst Anand Ranganathan has also extended his support to Gautam Khattar through a post on ‘X’.
Gautam Khattar has just been arrested for his remarks on St. Xavier who boasted of deriving great pleasure in seeing Hindu idols and temples being demolished. Gautam’s brother is already in jail in connection with the same case.
I stand with @GautamKhattar. And so should you. pic.twitter.com/AsDMouBRhx
— Anand Ranganathan (@ARanganathan72) April 26, 2026
Advocate Sanjeev Punalekar raises serious questions
“Even if you consider Francis Xavier a saint, we have no objection to it; but this cannot hide the truth. If your history is shameful, you must take responsibility for it. No one can stop us from bringing the true history of Francis Xavier’s atrocities before the world. For this, we will also launch a constitutional agitation in Goa,” such a clear opinion was expressed by the National Secretary of Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad, Advocate Sanjeev Punalekar.
🚩 हिंदू बांधवांनो एकत्र या! 🚩
गोवा पोलिसांनी माधव खट्टर आणि गौतम खट्टर यांना केलेल्या अन्यायकारक अटकेचा निषेध नोंदवण्यासाठी आयोजित सभेत मोठ्या संख्येने सहभागी व्हा.
📍 स्थळ: स्वातंत्र्यवीर सावरकर राष्ट्रीय स्मारक
🕕 वेळ: रवि, २६ एप्रिल २०२६ | सायं. ६:००… pic.twitter.com/e30amLk0RE— Ranjit Savarkar (@RanjitSavarkar) April 25, 2026
He was speaking at a programme organised at the Swatantryaveer Savarkar Rashtriya Smarak on 26 April in protest against the arrest of the Khattar brothers in Goa. On this occasion, the Working President of the Swatantryaveer Savarkar Rashtriya Smarak, Shri. Ranjit Savarkar, and staunch Hindu Shri. Sameer Kulkarni were present on the dais. This programme was organised through the ‘Goa Hindu Raksha Manch’.
Advocate Sanjeev Punalekar further stated, “Whether it is the incidents of thousands of Hindus’ hands being chopped off at the ‘Hat Katro Khambh’ in Goa or the atrocities committed against Saraswat Brahmins, the Khattar brothers have been arrested to suppress these incidents related to Francis Xavier. This pressure tactic is being adopted so that the true history of Francis Xavier does not come before the public. Letters related to the atrocities of Francis Xavier are available with the Indian and Portuguese governments. Germany apologised for Hitler’s atrocities, so why shouldn’t the history of Francis Xavier be brought forward?”
Goa Government should make documents related to Francis Xavier public – Adv. Punalekar
Even though Francis Xavier, who committed atrocities on Hindus, might be accepted by some people; Peter Alvares, who made a significant contribution to the liberation of Goa, is ignored. If the Manusmriti can be burnt in this country, then we too have the right to discuss the atrocities of Francis Xavier. The Goa Government should form a committee of experts and make documents related to Francis Xavier’s deeds public within 1–2 months, and give citizens the freedom to express their opinion on this subject — such an appeal was made by Advocate Sanjeev Punalekar.
Hindus are being targeted by pressuring the Goa Government
Despite Zakir Naik making an objectionable statement about Shri Ganesh, he was not arrested. M.F. Husain painted nude pictures of Hindu Deities, derogatory statements were made about Mata Saraswati in Maharashtra, objectionable remarks were made about Brahmin women by Purushottam Khedekar. In such cases, those who insult Hindus do not get punished.
When such events come to the fore even in states with a pro-Hindu government, it is highly regrettable. It is alleged that some groups pressured the Goa Government to take action against Hindus. Furthermore, whilst the state acts swiftly against Hindus, Christian radicals who deliberately hurled offensive slurs at Hindu Deities online in retaliation have only faced FIRs in Canacona after immense pressure from local pro-Hindu organisations.
‘Why separate justice for other religions and separate for Hindus?’ this question was raised by Advocate Sanjeev Punalekar.