“Report every week or lose bail,” Prabhakar Bhat gets bail with conditions; here’s what court said
Mangaluru: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat, booked under serious charges over making derogatory communal hate speeches against Muslim women and children, was granted anticipatory bail on Wednesday, December 10.
The Puttur Fifth Additional District and Sessions Court, which heard the case, has imposed strict conditions, including reporting to the police station every Thursday.
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The court has granted the anticipatory bail application filed by Bhat under Section 482 of the BNSS, with the following conditions:
1. The accused in Crime No. 118/2025 lodged at Puttur Rural Police Station should appear at the station and be released on a personal bond of Rs. 50,000 and one surety of the same amount.
2. The accused should surrender before the officer of the Puttur Rural Police Station within 20 days.
3. He should appear before the investigating officer every Thursday between 10 am and 1 pm for a period of six months and cooperate in the investigation; failure to comply with the above can lead to cancellation of the bail.
4. The accused should not intimidate the complainant or other prosecution witnesses and should not directly or indirectly interfere with the evidence. He (the accused) also must be present regularly for all court dates.
5. He shall not indulge in similar offences in the future.
6. The accused should submit the self-bond and sureties to the court within 20 days from the date of issuing of this order.
7. The accused should submit his proof of address to the investigating officer and the court.
8. In case of violation of any of the above conditions, bail granted to the accused will be cancelled.
The case pertains to the incident reported back in October 22, when Bhat allegedly made derogatory remarks against Muslim women and children during the Deepotsava program organised near Uppalige in Puttur Taluk.
Following the incident, Eshwari Padmunja Janavadi Mahila Sangathan filed a complaint at the Puttur Rural Police Station, accusing Bhat of inciting hate. Acting on the complaint, the police registered an FIR against Prabhakar Bhat and the organisers of the Deepotsava program under sections 79, 196, 299, 302 and 3(5) of Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS)-2023.
The police had issued a notice directing Bhat to appear for an inquiry. In response, Bhat moved the court seeking anticipatory bail.
Meanwhile, senior advocate Satheeshan had filed an application under sections 338–339 of the BNSS on behalf of the complainant, seeking permission to file a counter-application and argue against bail. The court granted the application, allowing him to argue and submit a counter to the bail plea.
In the meantime, the public prosecutor also filed a counter-application to Prabhakar Bhat's bail application.
Complainant Eshwari Padmunja’s lawyer also submitted a lengthy application, spanning dozens of pages, to the court regarding Prabhakar Bhat's bail application.
Senior advocate Satheeshan had provided the court with the history of 13 cases against Prabhakar Bhat and the Supreme Court judgments.
After hearing all sides, the court granted anticipatory bail to Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat with the above conditions.
So far, 12 hate speech cases have been registered against Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat.
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K’taka cabinet approves cricket matches at M. Chinnaswamy stadium: Reports
Belagavi: The state cabinet under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has reportedly given its nod to permit cricket matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, subject to certain conditions.
The decision is learnt to have been taken after a meeting held at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha here on Thursday.
Reports indicate that Home Minister Dr G. Parameshwara has been directed to formulate rules along with a referendum to hold a cricket match at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
The cabinet’s approval comes subject to conditions, considering the report of Justice D’Cunha, which was prepared after the stampede.
The June 4 stampede during the celebrations for RCB’s maiden IPL title killed 11 people, which raised serious questions over the stadium's capability to host large-scale events.
Will RCB be playing at their home ground next year?
Stating that the “state had learned from the tragedy,” Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Monday, December 08, dismissed the talks about shifting Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s home games out of the city.
He also said that the Chinnaswamy Stadium is the “pride of Bengaluru and Karnataka” and vowed that IPL fixtures will continue to be played there.
On Wednesday, Shivakumar met the newly elected KSCA president Venkatesh Prasad at the Circuit House in Belagavi and reiterated that cricket matches, including IPL fixtures, will not be shifted out of Bengaluru.
“We have no intention of stopping matches at Chinnaswamy Stadium, but crowd control measures and the Michael D. Cunha committee’s recommendations will be implemented in phases,” he told reporters.
Shivakumar said the government is committed to promoting cricket and supporting fans while safeguarding the state’s reputation, adding that Prasad had sought the government’s cooperation and agreed to work jointly on the issue.
