The Kerala High Court, on Wednesday, February 19, slammed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader PC George while hearing his bail plea in a hate speech case. George, who has often courted controversies with his inflammatory remarks, was recently booked by the Erattupetta police for making hate speech against Muslims during a television debate. Noting that the BJP leader was a repeat offender, Justice PV Kunhikrishnan observed that in such instances jail sentences should be mandatory.
The judge stated that India is a secular country and people should not be using caste and religion to promote enmity between different groups. Further, the court also was reluctant to give him bail in the case.
“First offender, he can escape with fine, second offender, he can escape with fine…there are sections in which second offence is given higher punishment, right?… According to me, (a) mandatory jail sentence is necessary, if there is an offence…mandatory jail sentence is necessary especially because India is a secular country…," the judge said in an oral observation.
But the counsel for George submitted that he did not intentionally make statements or speeches promoting hatred or ill will against the Muslim community, rather he was provoked during the channel debate, for which he has apologised also. But the state staunchly opposed the bail plea, contending that George had done the same thing in the past too.
The court observed, “He is not an ordinary man. He has a career based in politics. When the High Court says something, you are repeatedly violating it, what is the solution? Suppose I accept your condition and pass an order, tomorrow anybody can come here and violate the court orders.”
George has a history of making anti-Muslim speeches. In May 2024, he was booked in two cases for delivering hate speeches, including one in which he urged non-Muslims in Kerala to avoid eating at restaurants run by the Muslim community. Shortly after securing bail for this offense, he made similar remarks, leading to another case against him.
The 73-year-old former MLA has had a long political career, shifting allegiances between various political outfits before forming his own party. Ahead of the 2024 general elections, he merged his party with the BJP and assumed the role of a senior party leader in Kerala.
(With IANS inputs)