“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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Karnataka leads in AI: Minister Priyank Kharge at Impact Summit
Bengaluru (PTI): Minister Priyank Kharge on Wednesday highlighted the state’s leadership in AI and deep technology while engaging with global industry leaders and startups at a four-day summit held in New Delhi, officials said.
During the event, Priyank witnessed the signing of a strategic MoU between H Company and St John’s Medical College & Research Institute, Bengaluru, to pilot advanced enterprise AI for hospital operations and workflow automation, strengthening responsible AI in healthcare, the minister’s office said in a statement here.
Speaking on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit, the minister said Karnataka is ahead of the curve in AI.
“We are already home to leading global AI players such as Harvey AI and Anthropic, and The Walt Disney Company is expanding its AI network in Bengaluru,” he added.
Noting Bengaluru’s position among the top global cities for AI talent, he added, “Under our DeepTech Decade, we are supporting startups with grants of up to Rs 1 crore. We are engaging with global leaders and innovators to ensure responsible AI use, build the right skill sets, create strong incubators, and establish Centres of Excellence that can foster startups and strengthen e-governance.”
The minister also attended a roundtable organised by the US-India Business Council (USIBC), where discussions focused on strengthening technology collaboration, investment partnerships, and innovation-led growth between Karnataka and global enterprises.
He met Timo Harakka, Member of Parliament of Finland, to explore possibilities for collaboration between Karnataka and Finland in AI and deep-tech sectors, including joint research, innovation partnerships, and startup exchanges.
The Karnataka IT Minister also visited the Indian Army showcase at the summit, which featured advanced AI-driven defence and strategic technology applications, highlighting the role of AI in national security and modernisation efforts.
He toured the Karnataka Pavilion and the ArtPark Pavilion, interacting with founders and teams from Karnataka’s innovation ecosystem and reviewing emerging AI and deep-tech solutions, the statement added.
