Tirunelveli: A controversial promotional hoarding installed at an eatery along the Tirunelveli–Tiruchendur arterial road in southern Tamil Nadu led to street-level protests and swift police intervention, culminating in the arrest of the 30-year-old shop owner for allegedly hurting religious sentiments. The advertisement, installed to promote a ₹99 'Arabic-style Chicken 65 Biryani' offer for Vinayagar Chaturthi, featured an image of Lord Ganesha standing over a commercial cooking degh, positioned in a posture depicting the deity preparing and garnishing non-vegetarian food. The visual provoked objections from local residents and religious outfits, prompting the Tirunelveli City Police to remove the display, register an FIR, and take the proprietor into custody. For official departmental updates and public safety advisories, visit the Tamil Nadu Police Official Portal.

The Incident: A ₹99 Festive Offer Sparks Backlash

The incident occurred at an outlet located adjacent to the V. M. Chathiram bridge on the busy Tirunelveli–Tiruchendur main corridor:

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  • The Promotional Campaign: To mark Vinayagar Chaturthi, the eatery announced a limited-period discount offer advertising 'Arabic-style Chicken 65 Biryani' at ₹99, valid across September 13 and September 14.
  • The Objectionable Visual: The promotional hoarding displayed an illustration of Lord Ganesha positioned directly behind a cooking vessel, with hands arranged over the pot in a manner depicting the active preparation of chicken biryani.
  • Public Reaction: Pedestrians, motorists, and local devotees flagged the banner, calling the association of non-vegetarian meat preparation with a traditionally vegetarian deity during a major religious festival disrespectful and offensive.

Protests, Police Intervention, and Arrest

As images of the billboard circulated across social media groups, tensions mounted outside the establishment:

  • Street Agitation: Cadres of the Hindu Munnani alongside local residents assembled outside the eatery near V. M. Chathiram, staging demonstrations and demanding the immediate removal of the board and legal accountability for deliberate religious provocation.
  • Police Response: Officers from the local jurisdiction arrived on the scene, climbed onto the reception counter, dismantled the hoarding, and seized promotional materials to de-escalate the standoff.
  • Formal Criminal Complaint: A 42-year-old resident of Narasinghanallur, identified as Selvaraj, lodged a formal written complaint at the Tirunelveli Government Medical College Hospital (TVMCH) Police Station.
  • Suspect Arrested: Following a preliminary investigation, police registered a case and arrested the shop owner, identified as Jayanth (30), son of Murugaiah and a resident of KTC Nagar, Tirunelveli.

Legal Framework and Commercial Advertising Guidelines

Authorities booked the shop owner under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) governing acts intended to outrage religious feelings and promote enmity between classes through offensive public displays. Law enforcement officials reminded regional businesses and outdoor advertising vendors that utilizing revered religious iconography to market products that contradict traditional religious sensibilities—particularly non-vegetarian items during fasting periods—attracts penal liability under public order statutes.