YouTuber Gautam Khattar Detained Over Offensive Remarks Against St Francis Xavier

Last Updated:April 24, 2026, 22:01 IST

Right-wing speaker Gautam Khattar, wanted for offensive remarks against St Francis Xavier, was arrested in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh.

Right-wing speaker Gautam Khattar, wanted by Goa Police for allegedly making offensive remarks against St Francis Xavier, a revered figure in the state, has been arrested in Himachal Pradesh, officials said on Friday. The arrest comes after several days of nationwide search and growing public outrage over his controversial speech.

Khattar, founder of the outfit Sanatan Mahasangh, was detained in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh, Superintendent of Police (Crime Branch) Rahul Gupta told reporters in Panaji. His arrest follows a non-bailable warrant issued by a Goa court in connection with the case.

“Based on inputs provided by the Goa police, the Himachal Pradesh police arrested the main accused Gautam Khattar in Kullu district this evening. A Crime Branch team will soon take his custody and bring him to Goa," Gupta said.

Khattar had been on the run since last Saturday (April 18), when an FIR was registered against him in Panaji for allegedly “hurting religious sentiments" with his remarks against St Xavier, the patron saint of Goa. The comments, captured in a video that went viral, triggered widespread condemnation after he purportedly made “objectionable" statements about the saint, whose Holy Relics are preserved at the Basilica of Bom Jesus Church in Old Goa.

The speech was delivered at an event on Saturday evening, attended by religious guru Swami Brahmeshanand, Goa Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho and BJP MLAs Sankulp Amonkar and Daji (Krishna) Salkar.

In a related development, Goa Police on Wednesday arrested Khattar’s brother, Madhav, from Uttarakhand in connection with the same case.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had said on Thursday that Khattar would be arrested within two days. SP Rahul Gupta noted that the government had acted swiftly in line with the chief minister’s assurance.

“As promised by the chief minister, prompt action has been taken by the government in the case," Gupta said, adding that Khattar will soon be brought to Goa to face further legal proceedings.

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