We won’t arrest Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat in hate speech case: Karnataka govt’s lawyer tells HC
Bengaluru: During the hearing of a petition seeking the quashing of the case against Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat for making derogatory remarks about Muslim women, the government's lawyer informed the High Court on Thursday that there is no intention to arrest Prabhakar Bhatt.
The case against Bhat was registered following his controversial comments praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, particularly applauding the criminalization of triple talaq. Bhat claimed that Muslim women were granted "permanent husbands" through this legal intervention.
In response to the petition filed in the High Court seeking the quashing of the case, Bhat's counsel argued that it was a politically motivated complaint and cited the accused's age and health condition. The counsel requested the court to stay the FIR, expressing concerns that Bhatt might be arrested.
S. Balan, the advocate for the complainant, objected to the stay, highlighting the impact of Bhat's statements on society and the ongoing protests. Balan suggested filing sedition charges, including UAPA, against Bhat, characterizing him as a potential instigator of communal riots.
The government's lawyer clarified during the hearing, "We do not intend to arrest Prabhakar Bhat in this case," and requested the court to schedule the next date for the trial. The trial judge, taking note of the government's stance, stated, "There is no need to discuss the stay on the case if the government does not intend to arrest Bhat." The hearing was adjourned to January 9, 2024.
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Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
