Overview
- In Malappuram, police arrested three people over a poster for a Valambur restaurant that showed Lord Krishna with a kuzhi mandi dish and released them on bail.
- In Cherthala, officers booked two managing partners of Mehr Mandi & Grills under Section 192 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, a provision on provocation with intent to cause a riot that carries up to one year in jail.
- Police also recorded arrests for individuals who circulated the Cherthala poster on WhatsApp as they moved to prevent unrest near the restaurant.
- The Cherthala restaurant issued a video apology, saying a third‑party designer made the image and that it was posted without proper review, though many online rejected the explanation.
- Hindu organisations including the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Hindu Aikyavedi led protests and boycott calls, reflecting how Vishu’s vegetarian norms make depictions of deities with non‑vegetarian food a flashpoint in Kerala.