A tattoo artist and the owner of a parlour in Bhubaneswar were arrested on Monday after a photo of Lord Jagannath’s tattoo on the thigh of a foreign woman went viral, sparking outrage among devotees and Hindu groups.
The police have identified the accused as Rockey Ranjan Bisoi, the parlour owner, and Aswini Kumar Pradhan, the tattoo artist. A case has been registered under Section 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings.
During the investigation, Rockey admitted that Aswini had inked the tattoo on the woman’s thigh at her request, despite being advised against it.
The controversy began when the tattoo photo surfaced on social media, leading to protests from Hindu groups and Jagannath devotees. According to police sources, the woman is believed to be an Italian national working for an NGO, though her identity is being verified.
In response to the backlash, the woman and the tattoo parlour owner issued public apologies.
With folded hands in a video message, the woman expressed remorse and said, “I didn’t want to be disrespectful. I’m a true devotee of Lord Jagannath and visit the temple every day. I made a mistake and I’m very sorry. I asked the artist to ink the tattoo in a hidden place and didn’t intend to create any controversy. Once the tattoo heals, I will have it removed. Please forgive me.”
The parlour owner also clarified that the woman proceeded with the tattoo despite his warnings.
The police continue to investigate the matter while ensuring law and order in the city.
