Hate speech case | No coercive action against Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat: High Court
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has directed the Puttur Rural police not to take any coercive action against RSS leader Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat in connection with a hate speech case registered against him.
The case pertains to allegations that Bhat delivered a hate speech during a Deepotsava programme held at Uppalige in Puttur taluk. The order was passed by a single-judge bench of Justice M. Nagaprasanna while hearing a petition filed by Dr. Prabhakar Bhat (83), seeking quashing of the FIR registered on the basis of a complaint lodged by Eshwari Padmunja.
Senior advocate Arun Shyam, appearing for the petitioner, submitted before the court the complete transcript of the speech allegedly delivered by Bhat, as directed earlier by the court. Additional State Public Prosecutor Asma Kousar submitted a pen drive containing a 42-minute video recording of the speech.
After accepting the transcript and video recording, the court stated that it would examine the contents of the speech before proceeding further. The bench adjourned the matter to February 5 and directed that no coercive steps be taken against the petitioner till then.
During the hearing, Asma Kousar informed the court that the petitioner is already on bail and that no coercive action is presently being taken against him. However, she also pointed out that another case on similar allegations had been registered against the petitioner recently and that such incidents appeared to be continuing. She further alleged that the petitioner was violating bail conditions.
In response, the court observed that if the petitioner was indeed violating bail conditions, the prosecution was at liberty to file an application seeking cancellation of bail. The matter was thereafter adjourned.
According to the complaint filed at the Puttur Rural police station on October 25, 2025, complainant Eshwari Padmunj alleged that during the Deepotsava programme organised on October 20 in Uppalige as part of Diwali celebrations, Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat made statements that hurt religious sentiments, insulted women, and incited hatred between communities.
The complaint alleged that Bhat made remarks unrelated to the programme, referring to Hindu and Muslim women, childbirth, and made statements invoking childbirth in the name of Allah and Mahalingeshwara. It was alleged that the speech was derogatory to the dignity of women and capable of promoting enmity between Hindu and Muslim communities. The complainant sought legal action against Bhat and the organisers of the programme.
Based on the complaint, an FIR was registered against Bhat and others. Challenging this, Bhat approached the High Court seeking quashing of the FIR.
On January 19, the High Court had issued notice to the State and urgent notice to the complainant, directing the petitioner to submit the complete transcript of the speech. The court had also restrained the police from filing a chargesheet against the petitioner without prior permission of the court.
The matter will now be taken up for further hearing on February 5.
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Police inspector suspended in UP's Ballia for making 'obscene' remarks against rape survivor
Ballia (PTI): A police inspector has been suspended here for allegedly using abusive and obscene language during a phone conversation with a 33-year-old rape survivor, officials said on Wednesday.
The action came after an audio clip, purportedly of Inspector Naresh Malik of the Crime Branch, went viral on social media on Monday.
In the clip, he is allegedly heard speaking to the woman in an objectionable manner during his earlier posting as inspector (crime) at the local Ubhaon police station.
According to the police, a case was registered on February 20 at the Ubhaon police station based on the woman's complaint.
The woman had alleged that a forest department sub-inspector, Ugrasen Kumar Jaiswal, raped her about six months ago on the pretext of marriage. She also alleged that he threatened to kill her if she pursued the complaint.
In a separate complaint sent to the deputy inspector general of police, the survivor alleged that Malik and SHO Sanjay Shukla had called her and used abusive and obscene language, asking her to meet them alone. She further alleged that they told her her case would be helped only if she "satisfied" them, and that Malik even offered her money during the conversation.
Superintendent of Police Omveer Singh said the matter came to his notice on Monday, following which Malik was placed under suspension with immediate effect.
An inquiry has been ordered into the allegations, and Additional Superintendent of Police (North) Dinesh Kumar Shukla has been assigned to probe the matter, Singh said.
"Strict action will be taken against the accused based on the findings of the inquiry," the SP added.
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