Court Grants Interim Relief to Kaldaka Prabhakar Bhat, Bars Police from Arrest
District court directs police to avoid coercive action until October 29 in inflammatory speech case
PUTTUR – In a significant ruling, the 6th Additional District and Sessions Court in Puttur has directed the police not to take any coercive action against Hindu leader Kaldaka Prabhakar Bhat until the next hearing in a case related to alleged inflammatory speech.
The case stems from a speech delivered by Bhat during a Deepotsava program held in Uppinangady, Puttur, on October 20. A woman named Aishwari Padmanja filed a complaint alleging that Bhat’s speech was inflammatory and contained offensive language against women.
Based on the complaint, police registered a case against Bhat and the program organizers under BNS Sections 79, 196, 299, 302, and 3(5). Puttur Vidhi police then issued a notice to Bhat, summoning him for questioning.
However, Bhat approached the court, claiming that the FIR was filed with malicious intent and was motivated by hatred. He sought legal protection against what he described as an unfair case.
After the initial hearing, the court granted interim relief to Bhat and instructed the police to refrain from taking any forceful action against him until the next hearing scheduled for October 29. The court has also issued a notice to the police and will hear the matter further on that date.
The case has drawn attention as it involves questions about freedom of speech and the limits of public discourse during religious and cultural events.
