Police have arrested the creator of the controversial "Thaipusam Spraying Group" that threatened to spray paint women who dressed "inappropriately" during the Hindu festival next month.

The Star quoted Selangor police chief Abdul Samah Mat as saying the 29-year-old man from Seberang Jaya, Penang, was arrested about 9.20pm yesterday.

"We have applied to remand the suspect to help with our investigations," Abdul Samah reportedly said at the Selangor police headquarters today.

The group was started by one Henry Barnabas on Facebook, and to date, has more than 680 members.

It carried a picture of purportedly "inappropriate" saree blouses as examples of clothing to avoid and warned those who wore such clothes to the Thaipusam festival would be sprayed with aerosol paint.

On his personal page, Barnabas had claimed the group was founded to protect Hindu rituals and Indian culture.

He also blamed women for "behaving like call girls."

The group received widespread backlash from various parties and several police reports were lodged against it.