A government school teacher in Karnataka has been suspended, pending further inquiry, on the charge of sharing a derogatory message on social media against Minister Vijayanand Kashappanavar.

Anand Kembhavi was serving as an assistant teacher at the Karnataka Public School in Hiremasali village of Indi taluk in Vijayapura district. He had allegedly used a photo of Vijayanand Kashappanavar taking oath as a minister and circulated the same on social media with comments, including ‘the minister does not know how to speak Kannada properly’.

This led to some villagers appealing to the Indi Block Education Officer to take strict action against the teacher.

Based on the recommendation of the Indi BEO on a complaint by villagers, Manjunath Guledagudd, Deputy Director in the Public Education Department, issued an order suspending Anand Kambhavi on the charges of indiscipline and dereliction of duty.