BJP leader PC George granted bail in hate speech case

A Kerala court on Friday granted Bharatiya Janata Party leader PC George bail in a hate speech case relating to allegedly derogatory remarks he made against Muslims on television, Live Law reported.

The Erattupetta Judicial First Class Magistrate Court granted George bail after the BJP leader cited health complications.

George has been booked for his alleged remarks against Muslims during a televised news debate on January 5.

The first information report was filed based on a complaint by the Muslim Youth League Municipal Committee under a section of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita pertaining to the promotion of enmity between groups on the grounds of religion, and a section of the Kerala Police Act that relates to powers to deal with unlawful assembly.

On February 6, a sessions court in Kerala’s Kottayam had dismissed his anticipatory bail plea. On February 21, the Kerala High Court also dismissed his anticipatory bail application, citing history of him having made allegedly communal remarks.

The High Court had noted that the BJP leader had been named in another case for making statements allegedly targeting Muslims in 2022.

On February 24, the Hindutva party leader was remanded to 14 days in police custody after his bail plea was rejected for a third time – this time, by the Erattupetta Judicial First Class Magistrate Court.

Earlier on February 24, the police had...

Read more