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Chaitra Kundapura Age, Caste, Family, Biography & More

Chaitra Kundapura

Bio/Wiki
Profession(s)News Anchor, Journalist, Hindutva Activist
Physical Stats & More
Height (approx.)in centimeters- 163 cm
in meters- 1.63 m
in feet & inches- 5’ 4”
Eye ColourBlack
Hair ColourBlack
Personal Life
Date of Birth5 April
Age Not Known
Zodiac signAries
NationalityIndian
HometownKundapur, Karnataka
SchoolShe did her schooling at a government school in Kundapura and later joined the Government Pre-University College in Thekkatte, Karnataka.
College/UniversityMangalore University, Konaje, Karnataka
Educational QualificationA course in journalism and mass communication [1]Chaithra Kundapura – Facebook
ReligionHinduism
Political InclinationBharatiya Janata Party (BJP) [2]Rudrumuni Gowda Muni - Facebook
Controversies• Assaulting a Hindu Jagarna Vedike Activist: In 2018, Chaitra Kundapura and five of her associates were remanded to seven days of police custody by a Karnataka court. Their arrest was a result of a dispute in which Chaitra Kundapura and her associates physically assaulted Guruprasad Panja, who held the position of Sullia taluk secretary for the Hindu Jagarana Vedike. According to a sub-inspector, Chaitra and her group confronted Panja near Kashi Katte, outside his shop, following her visit to the Kukke Subramanya Mutt earlier that day. During a heated argument between these two Hindu leaders, one of Chaitra's aides used a steel rod to attack Panja. Chaitra faced charges of assault under IPC 351. This incident occurred after more than two weeks of disputes on Facebook between Panja and Chaitra regarding the performance of a "Sarpa Samskara" ritual, a ceremony dedicated to worshipping the snake god. Chaitra advocated for the ritual to be conducted at the mutt, while Panja, who was aligned with the Kukke Subramanya Temple, preferred it to be held there. Vidyaprasannateertha Swami, the seer of the Mutt, had initiated a hunger strike in protest of this controversial matter. Even Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy reacted to the incident on October 14, urging the seer to end the hunger strike and seek a peaceful resolution to the dispute. [3]The News Minute

• Booked For Hate Speech: On 4 October 2021, the police registered a case against Chaitra Kundapura for delivering a hate speech during a Bajrang Dal and Durgavahini event in Surathkal. She was charged under Sections 153 A (inciting disharmony, enmity, or hatred among different groups) and 505 (2) (making statements that promote enmity, hatred, or ill-will) of the Indian Penal Code, following a complaint lodged by Abdul Khader from Iddya. In a speech that went viral on the internet, Kundapura was recorded issuing a warning to the Muslim community to stop 'Love Jihad,' or else Bajrang Dal members would engage in similar activities with Muslim women. Love Jihad, also known as Romeo Jihad, is an Islamophobic conspiracy theory promoted by right-wing Hindutva activists. This theory claims that Muslim men use methods like seduction, love, and marriage to 'trap' Hindu and Christian women for the purpose of converting them to Islam. The complainant alleged that Kundapura had made insulting statements against Muslims and Christians and disturbed communal harmony. [4]The Hindu During her speech, she said,

“Just two days will suffice for Hindus who constitute 70% [of the population] to convert Muslim girls. If Bajrang Dal activists start loving Muslim girls, burqas will not be seen in Muslim houses. We will apply Vermilion on the forehead of daughters of every Muslim household and bring them along." 

• Cash-for-MLA Ticket Scam: On 8 September 2023, a businessman named Govind Babu Pujari lodged a First Information Report (FIR) in Bengaluru, alleging that Kundapura and her associates had stolen Rs 5 crores from him by promising a BJP ticket to contest the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections for the Byndoor constituency. The FIR identified Kundapura as the primary accused, followed by Gagan Kadur, Abhinava Halasri Swamiji, Ramesh, Naik, Dhanraj, Srikanth, and Prasad Byandur. Gagan Kadur is a member of the BJP youth wing, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha and Abhinava Halasri Swamiji is a seer associated with Samsthana Mutt in Hospet. They were charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including Section 406 (criminal breach of trust), 419 (cheating by personation), 420 (cheating), 170 (personating a public servant), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 120B (criminal conspiracy). Kundapura had reportedly received Rs 3.5 crore, while the seer Abhinav Halasree had obtained ₹1.5 crore from Pujari. According to the complaint, Kundapura convinced Pujari that she could use her affiliations with RSS and BJP leaders to secure a party ticket for him. Allegedly, Kundapura informed Pujari that the funds were handed over to an RSS leader named Vishwanath, who would take the necessary steps to secure the party ticket for him. However, Pujari became suspicious when, in March, she informed him that Vishwanath had passed away. Upon cross-checking, Pujari discovered that he had been tricked as there was no one named Vishwanath among RSS leaders. He realised that the person whom Kundapura had introduced as Vishwanath during their meetings was in fact Ramesh, one of Kundapura's accomplices. The case was transferred to the Central Crime Branch (CCB), which established three teams to locate the suspects. G M Abhinava Halaveerappajja, the seer of the Halashri Mutt in Vijayanagara, was on the run when the police caught him on 18 September while he was travelling on a train near Cuttack in Odisha. Reportedly, Chaitra became aware that the police were after her, so she turned off her mobile phone and asked one of her associates to obtain a new phone and a SIM card for her. Nevertheless, the police traced her down on 12 September after arresting Prasad Baindoor. The police persuaded Baindoor to call Chaitra and invite her to meet him in the parking lot of Sri Krishna Mutt, Udupi for the new mobile and sim card, where they arrested her. In the meantime, her associates Gagan Kadur, Ramesh, Dhanaraj, Srikant, and Prajwal were also arrested from various locations in Karnataka, while Abhinava Hala Swami absconded. [5]The Times of India On September 15, Chaitra experienced epileptic seizures during questioning by CCB officials, leading to her hospitalization at Victoria Hospital in Bengaluru. While being transported to the CCB office for questioning, Chaitra claimed that her arrest was part of a "conspiracy related to the pending bill issue of Indira canteen" during a media interaction. She also suggested that the arrest of Abhinava Hala Swami would reveal many prominent names. By 17 September, CCB officials had recovered over Rs 2 crore from Chaitra, which she had used to purchase a car, invest in fixed deposits, and acquire gold valuables. [6]The South First

• Cheating a BJP Member: In 2023, while in the custody of the Central Crime Branch (CCB) in Bengaluru, she faced another case in which she was accused of defrauding a BJP member of Rs 5 lakh. The complainant, Sudheena Pujari, hailed from the Udupi district and alleged that Kundapura tricked him for Rs 5 lakh by promising to assist him in establishing textile shops in Udupi and Kota back in 2015. Sudheena first met Kundapura in 2015 during a 'Go Raksha Samavesha' event, where Kundapura encouraged him to start a clothing store. In response, Sudheena raised the required funds through fishing and other means. Sudheena claimed that he handed over Rs 2 lakh in cash and transferred Rs 3 lakh to Kundapura's bank account. According to Sudheena's complaint, filed at the Kota police station in Udupi, the clothing store was registered under Kundapura's name while Sudheena was away working in Andhra Pradesh. Sudheena alleged that when he requested Kundapura to return his money, she threatened him with the prospect of lodging a sexual harassment complaint against him. Consequently, the Kota police registered a case against her under sections 506 (related to criminal intimidation), 417 (pertaining to cheating), and 420 (involving cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). [7]Deccan Herald
Relationships & More
Marital StatusUnknown
Family
Husband/SpouseN/A
ParentsFather- Name Not Known
Chaitra Kundapura with her parents performing a religious ritual
Mother- Rohini
Chaitra Kundapura's mother

Chaitra Kundapura

Some Lesser Known Facts About Chaitra Kundapura

  • Chaitra Kundapura is a former Indian news anchor and journalist who worked for Kannada television news channels. She is a prominent Hindutva activist in Udupi district, Karnataka. In September 2023, she made headlines in the BJP Ticket Fraud Case.
  • In 2014, she won the Traditional Queen contest.

    A picture of Chaitra Kundapura being crowned as the Traditional Queen (2014-15)

    Chaitra Kundapura being crowned as the Traditional Queen (2014-15)

  • After completing her formal education, Kundapura started working at Samaya News 24X7, a Kannada television news channel.
  • In 2016, she became a news anchor at Spandana TV, a media company.

    Chaithra Kundapura working as a news anchor for Spandana TV

    Chaithra Kundapura working as a news anchor for Spandana TV

  • Later, she moved to Kundapura town in Udupi district, Karnataka, where she continued her journalism work.
  • In 2015, she started working as a sub-editor at the Kannada daily newspaper Udayavani in Manipal, Karnataka.

    Chaithra Kundapura (rightmost) as an anchor on Spandana TV, a Kannada news channel

    Chaithra Kundapura (rightmost) as an anchor on Spandana TV, a Kannada news channel

  • In 2013, she was appointed as a National Executive Committee Member of  Akhil Bharathiya Vidhyarthi Parishath (ABVP). By 2015, she had progressed to become a member of its Central Working Committee (CWC). As an ABVP member, Chaithra actively led protests following the deaths of two students, Rathna Kothari in 2014 and Akshatha Devadiga in 2015.
  • In 2018, Chaitra received significant recognition from BJP leaders, including Shobha Karandlaje, for her stance against the September 9 Bharat bandh organized by the Congress and other political parties in response to rising fuel prices.
  • In 2020, she took on the role of SEO Marketing Manager at KLH Infotech Limited.
  • Additionally, she also worked at the UBMC School in Kundapur, Karnataka.
  • Her social media profiles are filled with numerous images from rallies, public engagement activities, and campaigns, some of which have an anti-Muslim sentiment. She frequently delivers proactive speeches at events organized by right-wing groups such as Ramakshatriya Seva Sangha (Puttur), Bajrang Dal, and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP). Chaitra first gained widespread attention in October 2021 when she delivered a controversial speech on ‘Love Jihad’ that heightened communal tensions. In the speech, she suggested that Hindu groups could also convert Muslims and make them wear kumkum (vermilion). Chaitra Kundapura speaking at Vaishwik Hindu Rashtra Mahotsav in Goa in 2023Chaitra Kundapura speaking at Vaishwik Hindu Rashtra Mahotsav in Goa in 2023
  • She also authored a book called “Prema Pasha,” which translates to “Love Loop” on Love Jihad.

    Cover of Chaitra Kundapura's book Prema Pasha

    Cover of Chaitra Kundapura’s book Prema Pasha

  • She actively campaigned for the BJP in Uttar Kannada during elections.
  • During her campaign, she frequently appeared alongside different Hindutva figures such as Pramod Muthalik, the founder of Sri Rama Sena, and Sharan Pumpwell from Bajrang Dal.
  • It was reported that a District Collector issued an order preventing Chaitra from entering the Aland taluk in Kalaburagi from 27 February to 3 March 2022 saying it was crucial to preserve peace and harmony in the area as Kundapura is known to deliver anti-Muslim speeches.

    Chaitra Kundapura at a Satyanarayana pooja and religious meeting held Ramakshatriya Seva Sangha (Puttur) in Dakshina Kannada district Puttur in 2023

    Chaitra Kundapura at a Satyanarayana pooja and religious meeting held Ramakshatriya Seva Sangha (Puttur) in Dakshina Kannada district Puttur in 2023

  • Kundapura’s Cash-for-MLA Ticket Scam first garnered attention in July 2023 when a Hindu leader from coastal Karnataka named Satyajit Suratkal contacted Rajashekharananda Swamiji of Vajradehi Math, asking him to return Rs 1.5 crore that he had received from Poojary. Confused, Rajashekharananda Swamiji informed Suratkal that he had only met Poojary once at Kollur and had no knowledge of the money. Subsequently, it was clarified that the person involved in the matter was actually another seer, Abhinav Halasree Swamiji, and not Rajashekharananda Swamiji.

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