By The News Observer Desk,
Karwar: In a development escalating the ongoing 'Mukaleppa Love Jihad' controversy—stemming from the June 2025 interfaith marriage of popular YouTuber Mohammed Kwaja (aka Mukaleppa) to Hindu woman Gayatri Jalihal—Pramod Mutalik, founder of Hindu Jagarana Vedike (and leader of the allied Sri Rama Sene), arrived in Karwar, Uttara Kannada district. He submitted a petition to the Additional District Commissioner, demanding immediate action against what he termed a "conspiracy" involving fraudulent marriage documents and alleged black magic.
Accompanying Mutalik were Gayatri's mother, Shivakka, and other family members, who reiterated claims that Mukaleppa had manipulated Gayatri through deceitful means, despite her earlier public denial of coercion in September. Shivakka accused, "Mukaleppa performed black magic on my daughter Gayatri and married her," echoing the initial Bajrang Dal complaint that sparked protests and investigations.
The group highlighted a perceived rise in such interfaith incidents in the district, urging the police and administration to treat it gravely and probe Mukaleppa's online content for anti-Hindu sentiments. Mutalik questioned, "Should we protect our Hindu girls or not? No one listens to our complaints. Do Muslim youths want our Hindu girls? But if we send their daughters to our boys, will they stay quiet?" He warned of "intense protests" if no steps were taken, aligning with Sri Rama Sene's prior calls for validating the marriage registration and acting against involved officials.
As of now, Dharwad police continue their probe into the original allegations, with Gayatri's video statement complicating the narrative. The petition in Karwar underscores how the case, initially localized, has drawn broader right-wing mobilization across North Karnataka.
https://youtu.be/8lZC_lWIh98
Background of the Mukaleppa's alleged Love Jihad Case
The controversy surrounding the 'Mukaleppa Love Jihad' case originated in September 2025 in North Karnataka, particularly in districts like Dharwad, Haveri, and Uttara Kannada. Mohammed Kwaja, a popular Kannada YouTuber and short-video content creator known by his online handle "Mukaleppa," gained fame for his comedic and relatable videos that amassed a large following, especially among youth in rural and semi-urban areas. His content often featured light-hearted skits, but it drew criticism from Hindu right-wing groups for allegedly mocking Hindu traditions and faith.
The allegations surfaced when Bajrang Dal activists filed a police complaint against Mukaleppa, accusing him of "love jihad"—a term used by some Hindu nationalist groups to describe interfaith relationships where Muslim men purportedly lure Hindu women into marriage and conversion as part of a conspiracy. According to the complaint, Mukaleppa married 19-year-old Hindu woman Gayatri Jalihal on June 5, 2025, through a registered marriage at the Mundagoda Sub-Registrar Office in Uttara Kannada district. Activists claimed he used fraudulent documents, falsifying his residential address as Shirahatti Gandhinagar, and allegedly employed "black magic" or brainwashing tactics to influence Gayatri. They portrayed the marriage not as a personal choice but as a deliberate trap to convert her to Islam, fitting into a broader narrative of protecting Hindu women from such "conspiracies."
Gayatri's family, including her mother Shivakka, supported these claims, alleging kidnapping, forced marriage, and religious betrayal. They stated that Mukaleppa had built trust through his online persona before pushing the relationship. However, the case took a significant twist shortly after the complaint. On September 21, 2025, Gayatri issued a public video statement denying any coercion, affirming that she and Mukaleppa had been in a consensual relationship for over two years. She emphasized that her parents were aware of and had initially consented to the marriage, and she had married of her own free will upon reaching the age of majority (18). Dharwad Police Commissioner N. Shashikumar confirmed her statements, noting that investigations were ongoing but no evidence of force had been found at that stage.
Mukaleppa's family, including his father, also spoke out, expressing fears for their safety amid threats and protests from right-wing groups. They described the marriage as legitimate and accused the activists of manufacturing controversy for political gain. Cyber experts were roped in to review Mukaleppa's videos for any content insulting Hinduism, while police cross-checked the marriage documents. As of late September 2025, the case remained under investigation, with no arrests reported, highlighting tensions between personal freedoms and communal narratives in interfaith unions.
