No coercive action against Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat in hate speech case, says High Court

The Karnataka High Court has directed that no coercive or urgent action be taken against RSS leader Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat in connection with a case related to an alleged provocative speech delivered at a condolence event for Hindu activist Suhas Shetty.

Justice S.R. Krishna Kumar, presiding over a single-judge bench, heard the plea filed by Dr. Bhat on Monday. In the petition, Bhat requested that the FIR registered at Bantwal Rural Police Station on June 2 be quashed and that the ongoing trial proceedings at the Bantwal JMFC Court be stayed.

After hearing preliminary arguments from both sides, the court allowed the investigation to continue, but clearly directed the police not to take any hasty or forceful action against the petitioner. Furthermore, the court instructed the authorities not to file a charge sheet without prior approval from the court, and adjourned further proceedings.

Advocate Suyog Herale represented the petitioner, while senior counsel Arun Shyam argued on his behalf during the hearing.

In the petition, Bhat has maintained that he is a law-abiding citizen and that the charges filed against him are fabricated and biased. The plea stated that he had merely paid tribute to Suhas Shetty and that there was no intent to incite hatred or violence in his speech.

The petition also highlighted that the FIR was lodged nearly 20 days after the event, and that no individual present at the event had provided any evidence or testimony claiming that hate speech was delivered.

In light of these factors, Bhat has requested the court to quash the FIR and halt all legal proceedings against him in the matter.