Fri Feb 21 09:36:24 UTC 2025: ## Kerala High Court Rejects BJP Leader’s Bail Plea in Hate Speech Case

**Kochi, February 21, 2025** – The Kerala High Court today dismissed the anticipatory bail application of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader P.C. George, who faces charges of hate speech. The case, filed by Erattupetta police, alleges violations under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for promoting enmity between groups on religious grounds and deliberately insulting religious beliefs. It also cites violations of the Kerala Police Act for causing public nuisance.

The prosecution argued against bail, highlighting Mr. George’s repeated violations of previous bail conditions in similar cases. The court noted Mr. George’s history of making inflammatory statements despite prior warnings and court orders.

Mr. George, in his petition, claimed his comments were a “slip of tongue” made during a heated television discussion and that he had since apologized on social media. However, this argument was rejected by the High Court, which criticized his disregard for previous bail conditions. His anticipatory bail petition was previously dismissed by the Kottayam Sessions Court.

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