A religious preacher has been arrested for allegedly insulting "Bharat Mata" by posting a "hate speech" on social media, police said today.

Yalamanchili Vijay Kumar, director of an organisation called Christ Gospel Team, allegedly made a derogatory speech about "Bharat Mata"--the national personification of India as a mother goddess.

The accused, a native of East Godavari district in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, had given the hate speech in August this year and posted it on social media, DCP (South Zone) said in a statement.

The complaint was filed against Vijay Kumar, who also goes by alises Vijay Kumar and Br. Vijay, by one T. Kunal Rao, a businessman and a resident of Hussainialam here.

According to police, the speech of Vijay Kumar was prejudicial to maintenance of harmony which could disturb the public tranquillity.