Puneeth Karehalli is a Hindu militant from the southern state of Karnataka. He has been involved in cow vigilantism and other anti-Muslim activities across the state, often by resorting to violent means.

He spreads the anti-Muslim propaganda of ‘Love jihad’ and implores Hindus to unite against the supposed ‘threat’ that Muslims pose. He has asked the state government to shut down Madrassas ( traditional institutes of Islamic learning), or else he would do it himself.

He usually refers to Muslims as ‘terrorists’ and ‘jihadists’ and threateningly suggests that every Indian should embrace Hinduism. He has been part of various campaigns that demand the banning of halal meat (meat obtained through the permissible way of animal slaughter in Islam) in the state.

He had participated in hate-filled campaigns against the hijab and other issues involving Muslims and other minorities, along with notable hate-mongers and genocide enablers like Pramod Muthalik and Mohan Gowda.

Karehalli was arrested by the Sathanur (Karnataka) Police after a five-day chase in Rajasthan on the charge of killing one Muslim cattle trader named Idris Pasha.

On April 1, 2023, 35-year-old Pasha, a resident of Guttalu near Sathanur (Karnataka), was found dead after being brutally thrashed by Kerehalli and others.

His audacity to incessantly spread hatred and misinformation comes from his covert connection with the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) top leadership.

He has been seen in pictures with Tejasvi Surya and Kapil Mishra of the BJP.