An FIR has been filed against journalist Rana Ayyub for allegedly describing anti-hijab protesters in Karnataka as "Hindu terrorists" during a television interview, the Hindu reported.

According to the report, the FIR was registered at Vidyagiri police station in Dharwad under section 25 of the Indian Penal Code based on a complaint by one Ashwath, described as a "volunteer" of the Hindu IT Cell, a Hindu supremacist group.

Ayyub had tweeted about the case as well.

The Telegraph reported that the interview in question was with the BBC in February. It quoted Ayyub as saying, "These girls have been wearing the hijab for a very long time, it is not for the first time. So. why suddenly has this group of young Hindu vigilantes, Hindu terrorists for that matter, who are hoisting saffron flags in an education complex in Karnataka..."

On February 16, India Today had reported that a police complaint had been filed against Ayyub for "derogatory remarks" on the anti-hijab protesters in a BBC interview.

Last year, a co-founder of the Hindu IT Cell had filed a police complaint against Ayyub for "illegally acquiring money from the general public in the name of charity" – referring to Ayyub crowdfunding for three relief campaigns on Ketto. An FIR was registered in the matter, and the enforcement directorate last month locked assets worth over Rs 1.77 crore belonging to Ayyub.

Ayyub has maintained that these allegations are "preposterous, wholly mala fide and belied by record".