A controversy erupted in Hyderabad after an auto driver was allegedly stopped and threatened by some miscreants over quotes related to Sanatana Dharma displayed on his autorickshaw on July 14. The incident later escalated after an alleged phone conversation between the driver and a police officer went viral on social media.
According to reports, the miscreants allegedly stopped the auto driver, identified as Bharat, and demanded that he erase the quotes displayed on his vehicle. They later approached the Attapur Police Station in Hyderabad and complained that the quotes had hurt their religious sentiments.
Subsequently, an Attapur Police Sub-Inspector allegedly called Bharat and asked him to come to the police station. In the purported phone conversation, which has since gone viral on social media, the SI could allegedly be heard speaking rudely to the auto driver, claiming that Hyderabad had “different rules” and threatening to file a case against him for not appearing at the police station.
The purported conversation triggered widespread reactions on social media, with several users tagging the Hyderabad Police and questioning the conduct of the police officer.
Following the controversy, representatives of Hindu organisations, including the VHP and Shivshakti, along with BJP Telangana leaders, assured Bharat of all possible assistance and accompanied him to the police station and extended their support to him.
Speaking to the media, Bharat claimed that the SI had reiterated, “Do you know the rules of Hyderabad?” and allegedly threatened him by asking how he would continue to drive an auto in Hyderabad.
What happened in @AttapurPS limits with the Hindu Auto driver who has written a quote on his Auto.
Hear it from the Auto driver himself. He was called to police station by Attapur Police.
VHP, Bajrangdal and other Hindu organisation accompanied him to the police station. pic.twitter.com/qI9U2ofaRA
— 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐫 𝐆𝐨𝐮𝐝 (@Sagar4BJP) July 15, 2026
The viral audio clip:
Police personnel and MIM goons are threatening and harassing Hindu auto driver for writing “Everyone born on this earth is a Hindu” & “Changing your religion is like changing your father” on his auto.
When one Hindu is targeted for expressing his beliefs, every Hindu must stand… pic.twitter.com/BbXx2BLGz2
— Sumiran Komarraju (@SumiranKV) July 14, 2026
VHP national spokesperson Dr Ravinuthala Shashidhar, tagging the Hyderabad Police Commissionerate, demanded the immediate suspension of the police officer who allegedly threatened the auto driver and the arrest of the person accused of attacking him.
“@CPHydCity, the police officer who threatened the Hindu auto driver must be suspended immediately. The religious fanatic who attacked the Hindu auto driver must be arrested immediately. Sharia law is not in force in Hyderabad; the Constitution of India is in force here. We are ready to discuss, in accordance with the law, what Sanatana Dharma says, what other religions preach five times a day, and what religious scriptures teach. The entire Hindu society stands in support of our brother, the auto driver, who proudly and respectfully proclaimed the Dharma into which he was born,” Shashidhar said.
ఆటో డ్రైవర్, రియల్ హీరో, సోదరుడు భరత్కు అండగా ఉంటాము. ఏం జరుగుతుందో చూద్దాం! ఈరోజు VHP రాష్ట్ర కార్యాలయంలో భరత్ కలిసాడు, కలిసి భోజనం చేశాము. ఇకపై భాగ్యనగరంలో ప్రతి ఆటో 'జై శ్రీరామ్' అని నినదిస్తుంది, ఆటో చక్రాలే భాగ్యనగరంలో జగన్నాథ రథచక్రాలై కదులుతాయి! ✊🚩
Standing strong in… pic.twitter.com/FLOsw77PzV— Dr.Ravinuthala Shashidhar (@shashidhar147) July 15, 2026
Reacting to the incident, advocate Karuna Sagar also extended his support to the auto driver and cited the constitutional right to freedom of speech and expression.
“My complete support to the Hindu auto guy. Article 19 guarantees freedom of speech and expression,” he said.
My complete support to the Hindu Auto guy. Article 19 guarantees freedom of speech and expression. No Tom, Dick, or Harry can silence or intimidate anyone for expressing their views. If any law has been violated, let the courts decide. Let the law prevail, not mob justice.… pic.twitter.com/8Ja8u2tpS9
— VakeelSaab⚖️ (@karunasagarllb) July 14, 2026
Reacting to the issue, several netizens questioned the police officer’s stand and accused the police of selectively targeting Hindu auto drivers over religious expressions displayed on their vehicles.
Netizens questioned what they described as selective policing and called for the uniform application of the law.
“@AttapurPS cannot selectively target one community’s public expression while ignoring comparable expressions from others. True secularism requires the same rules for everyone — whether it is an auto-rickshaw slogan or five daily public calls to prayer. Selective policing erodes public trust and fuels resentment,” the netizen said.
I demand Attapur Si‘s suspension for his behaviour on a hindu auto driver ! How could he use foul language on public??
India is a secular democratic republic governed by the Constitution, not by Sharia or any religious law. Any action by police must be based on specific… pic.twitter.com/q08YittAKc— Kiran RJ (@rjkiranofficial) July 14, 2026
Poster on auto – For a ra*e free, harassment free society, Islam has a solution …! pic.twitter.com/iavNgpSeks
— DharmaRakshak (@oldhandhyd) July 15, 2026
Will the SI call them as well and abuse them like how he abused Hindu auto driver Bharat?
1) “Jesus is the only true God”
2) “Olah is the only creator” https://t.co/zTBvJ084XQ pic.twitter.com/BrJPHWNSZZ— Tathvam-asi (@tathvamasi6) July 14, 2026
Two quotes on this mini truck one translates to “Those who don’t worship the creator(Allah in his context) and worship others will rot in hell” but no police or no secular thinks it’s wrong. (found this on an Insta reel from ID : utham._07)@karunasagarllb @CVAnandIPS @AttapurPS https://t.co/RZiLwvucVX pic.twitter.com/e9K5h9QiN7
— AK~Reddy 🕉️🚩 (@DSRDAK) July 15, 2026
Other social media users also shared photographs of different religious and ideological posters and messages displayed on vehicles, presenting them as a rebuttal to the alleged threats faced by the Hyderabad auto driver and questioning whether the police would apply the same standards in all such cases.
