The Kerala High Court on Friday declined the anticipatory bail request of BJP leader PC George, finding grounds in the allegations of hate speech made during a recent television debate. This decision came after the Kottayam District Sessions Court had earlier refused to grant him anticipatory bail.
The case against George was registered by the Erattupetta police following a complaint by Muhamed Shihab, a leader of the Muslim Youth League. Shihab accused George of making statements that could potentially incite religious hatred, during his participation in a televised discussion. The former MLA is alleged to have targeted a minority community in his remarks, which has sparked considerable controversy.
PC George was booked under several sections including Section 196(1)(a) and Section 299 of the Broadcast and Networking Services (BNS) Act, along with Section 120(o) of the Kerala Police Act, which pertains to causing religious or racial hostility among different groups.
The High Court’s decision underscores the judiciary’s stance on maintaining communal harmony and taking strict measures against any speech that could disrupt societal peace. The rejection of George’s plea suggests that the court sees substantial grounds in the allegations of promoting enmity between different groups.
