“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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MP HC sets up judicial commission to probe water contamination in Indore
Indore (PTI): The Indore bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court on Tuesday set up a commission of inquiry comprising a former HC judge to probe the issue of water contamination in city's Bhagirathpura, saying the matter requires probe by an independent, credible authority and "urgent judicial scrutiny".
It also directed the commission to submit an interim report after four weeks from the date of commencement of proceedings.
A division bench of Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi constituted the commission while hearing several public interest litigations (PILs) filed simultaneously regarding the deaths of several people in Bhagirathpura due to the consumption of contaminated water.
The HC reserved the order after hearing all the parties during the day, and released it late at night.
The state government on Tuesday told the HC that the deaths of 16 people in Indore's Bhagirathpura area was possibly linked to a month-long outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea caused by contaminated drinking water.
The government presented an audit report of 23 deaths from the current gastroenteritis epidemic in Bhagirathpura before the bench, suggesting that 16 of these fatalities may have been linked to the outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea caused by contaminated drinking water.
The report, prepared by a committee of five experts from the city's Government Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College, stated that the deaths of four people in Bhagirathpura were unrelated to the outbreak, while no conclusion could be reached regarding the cause of death of three other people in the area.
During the hearing, the high court sought to know from the state government the scientific basis behind its report.
The division bench also expressed surprise at the state government's use of the term "verbal autopsy" in relation to the report, sarcastically stating that it had heard the term for the first time.
The HC expressed concern over the Bhagirathpura case, stating that the situation was "alarming," and noted that cases of people falling ill due to contaminated drinking water have also been reported in Mhow, near Indore.
In its order, the HC said the serious issue concerning contamination of the drinking water supply in Bhagirathpura area allegedly resulted in widespread health hazards to residents, including children and elderly persons.
According to the petitioners and media reports, death toll is about 30 till today, but the report depicts only 16 without any basis or record, it said.
It is averred that sewage mixing, leakage in the pipeline, and failure of civic authorities to maintain potable water standards have led to the outbreak of water-borne diseases. Photographs, medical reports, and complaints submitted to the authorities prima facie indicate a matter requiring urgent judicial scrutiny, the HC said.
"Considering the gravity of the allegation and affecting the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India and the need for an independent fact-finding exercise, the Court is of the opinion that the matter requires investigation by an independent, credible authority," it said.
"Accordingly, we appoint Justice Sushil Kumar Gupta, former judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, a one-man commission of inquiry into the issues relating to water contamination in Bhagirathpura, Indore, and its impact on other areas of the city," the HC added.
As per the order, the commission shall inquire into and submit a report on the cause of contamination -- whether the drinking water supplied to Bhagirathpura was contaminated; and the source and nature of contamination (sewage ingress, industrial discharge, pipeline damage etc).
The panel will also probe the number of actual deaths of affected residents on account of contaminated water; find out the nature of disease reported and adequacy of medical response and preventive measures; suggest immediate steps required to ensure safe drinking water as well as long-term infrastructural and monitoring reforms.
It will also identify and fix responsibility upon the officers and officials found prima facie responsible for the Bhagirathpura water contamination incident, and suggest guidelines for compensation to affected residents, particularly vulnerable sections.
The commission shall have powers of a civil court for the purpose of summoning officials and witnesses; calling up records from the government department, hospitals, laboratories and civic bodies; ordering water quality testing through accredited laboratories; conducting spot inspections.
All state authorities involving district administration, Indore Municipal Corporation, public health engineering department and Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board shall extend full co-operation and provide records as sought by the commission, it said.
The state government shall provide office space, staff, and logistical support to the commission, it said.
During the hearing in the day, the state government also presented a status report to the court in this matter.
According to reports, a total of 454 patients were admitted to local hospitals during the vomiting and diarrhea outbreak, of whom 441 have been discharged after treatment, and 11 are currently hospitalised.
According to officials, due to a leak in the municipal drinking water pipeline in Bhagirathpura, sewage from a toilet was also mixed in the water.
