Hate speech: Delhi court dismisses bail application, says we are not 'Taliban State'
New Delhi(PTI): A Delhi court has dismissed the anticipatory bail application of a Hindu organisation's president who allegedly raised communal slogans, saying we are not a Taliban State .
Additional Sessions Judge Anil Antil dismissed the application of Bhupinder Tomar, president of 'Hindu Raksha Dal', and said that in the past such incidents have flared communal tensions leading to riots and loss to life and property.
Tomar was accused of raising communal slogans and inciting the youth to propagate against a particular religion at a rally at Jantar Mantar on August 8.
We are not Taliban State. Rule of law is the sacrosanct governing principle in our plural and multi cultural society. While the whole of India is celebrating 'azadi ka amrut mahotsav' there are some minds still chained with Intolerant and self centric beliefs, the judge said in the order passed on August 21.
The court said complicity of the accused in the case was 'prima facie' apparent from the available evidence and the accusations against him were serious and severe in nature.
History is not immune where such incidents have fared communal tensions leading to riots and causing loss to life and property of general public, the court order said.
The police had imposed the pre-arrest bail application, alleging that the accused used the platform at Jantar Mantar to create communal disharmony and to give communal colour to their plans, incited the youth to propagate against a particular religion, despite the sanction to gather refused by the competent authority.
During the court proceedings the judge had also played a video clip of an interview of the accused to a YouTube channel and observed that it was impregnated with high octane communal barbs laced with inflammatory, insulting and threatening gestures.
He had said the interview was indicative of the calculative design on the part of the accused to promote hatred and ill will amongst other sections of the community.
He said that even though the right to freedom of speech was a fundamental right, one of the most cherished natural right enshrined in the Constitution under Article 19(1)(a), but it was not an unfettered right .
It is not absolute. Nor can it be, extended to transgress upon fundamental right of other people nor can it be expanded to the acts pre-judicial to maintenance of peace; harmony and public order; nor can it be permitted to invade and erode the secular fabric of our society, he said.
He added that in the garb of libertarian concept of free speech, the accused could not be allowed to trample the Constitutional principles, which promote inclusiveness and common brotherhood.
During the arguments, the prosecution had opposed the application, saying that the investigation was at nascent stage and since the accused was President of Hindu Raksha Dal, if released on bail at this stage, he will hamper the investigation, and threaten witnesses, considering his tone and tenure of his speech and the threatening words used in the alleged interview.
The accused had sought pre-arrest bail on the ground that he had not been convicted earlier and that there was no chance of him fleeing from justice.
He also undertook to join the investigation as and when required if granted the relief.
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Bengaluru records coldest December night in eight years at 13.30C, says IMD
Bengaluru: Bengaluru experienced its coldest December night in eight years, with the minimum temperature dropping to 13.3 degrees Celsius on December 13, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
According to the report published by The New Indian Express on Tuesday, IMD data shows that this is the lowest minimum temperature recorded in the city since 2016. The all-time lowest December temperature in Bengaluru was 8.9 degrees Celsius on December 29, 1883. In recent years, the city recorded 12 degrees Celsius in December 2016 and 12.8 degrees Celsius in December 2011.
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IMD officials reportedly said, day temperatures in Bengaluru and other parts of south-interior Karnataka will dip further in the coming days. They also forecast light drizzle in some parts of the region over the next few days.
“There will be a slight rise in night time temperatures from Monday, December 15, 2025, because of the prevailing south easterly winds. These winds will lead to the formation of a thin cloud cover and layer of water vapour over the atmosphere. The moisture level in the atmosphere will increase, leading to a dip in the day temperatures and a slight rise in the night temperatures from the prevailing 14 degrees Celsius,” TNIE quoted IMD senior scientist CS Patil as saying.
However, once these winds weaken, northerly and north-easterly winds are expected to return, which could lead to another drop in night temperatures. Officials allegedly said that Karnataka may see a longer and drier winter spell this year compared to previous seasons.
