On the basis of a complaint made by HS Sundaresh, the president of the Shivamogga District Congress Committee, the FIR was filed in accordance with sections 153A, 153B, 268, 295A, 298, 504, and 508 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Union Defence Minister and senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh also said that the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi was, is and will remain relevant and described him as a guide (margdarshak) for the nation.