Kerala BJP Leader P.C. George Secures Bail in Hate Speech Incident
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Synopsis
P.C. George, a senior BJP leader in Kerala, was granted bail after a judicial remand related to hate speech allegations against a specific community during a TV debate. His health issues led to a transfer to a hospital before his bail was approved.
Key Takeaways
- P.C. George, a senior BJP leader, secured bail.
- He was initially remanded for a hate speech case.
- The allegations included inflammatory remarks against Muslims.
- George has had a long political career in Kerala.
- The Kerala High Court previously dismissed his bail plea.
Kottayam, Feb 28 (NationPress) P.C. George, a prominent BJP figure in Kerala and a seven-time former Legislator, was granted bail by a lower court on Friday after being placed in judicial remand for two weeks due to a hate speech case that arose on February 24.
The charges stemmed from his alleged hate speech directed at a specific community during a televised debate.
After his bail request was initially denied on Monday, he was taken into custody, but following complaints of health issues, an ECG was performed, revealing irregularities.
He was subsequently transferred to the cardiology department of the state-run Medical College hospital, where his new bail application was approved by the court on Friday.
Notably, on February 21, the Kerala High Court had dismissed his anticipatory bail request, leading to the expectation of his arrest.
When police sought him on February 24 around 11 a.m., George voluntarily appeared at the local court in Erattupettah.
Initially, the court remanded him to police custody until 6 p.m., but later ordered him into judicial custody for a period of 14 days.
At 73 years old, George has had a lengthy political career, aligning with various parties before establishing his own, which he later merged with the BJP ahead of the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Currently, he holds a senior position within the BJP in Kerala. In this case, the High Court noted on February 17 that George repeatedly disobeyed the directives of both the Magistrate Court and the High Court, resulting in the rejection of his plea on February 21.
Previously, the High Court had granted him bail with the stipulation that he would refrain from making incendiary remarks.
The accusations against George include making inflammatory comments about the Muslim community, claiming, “They are terrorists and communalists,” and further asserting that no “Muslim living in India is not a terrorist.” He is also accused of inciting hatred towards Muslims and suggesting they should migrate to Pakistan.
