In a unique bail condition, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has ordered an accused man, who allegedly shouted pro-Pakistan slogans, to salute the national flag 21 times and chant ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ during each visit to a police station as part of his bail terms. The directive comes as part of the court’s effort to instill a sense of national pride in the accused.
Justice DK Paliwal, presiding over the case, mandated that Faizal alias Faizan, the accused, perform these acts on the first and fourth Tuesday of every month until the conclusion of his trial. The bail was set against a personal bond of Rs 50,000 and a solvent surety of the same amount.
“The applicant may be released on bail by imposing some conditions which may enthuse in him a sense of responsibility and pride for the country in which he was born and living,” Justice Paliwal noted in the order. He emphasized the gravity of Faizal’s actions, stating, “He is openly shouting slogans against the country in which he was born and brought up.”
Faizal was arrested in May following complaints at Bhopal’s Misrod police station under section 153B of the lapsed Indian Penal Code (IPC), which addresses assertions prejudicial to national integration. The prosecution argues that Faizal’s actions promoted enmity between different groups and were detrimental to national harmony and integration.
While the defense counsel argued that Faizal had been falsely implicated, the prosecution presented evidence, including a video, showing the accused hailing Pakistan and denouncing India. The state government’s counsel further opposed the bail, labeling Faizal as a habitual offender with 14 criminal cases registered against him.
