Kottayam: Former MLA and senior BJP leader P C George surrendered before the Munsiff Magistrate Court in Erattupetta, Kerala, on Monday, following the Kerala High Court’s rejection of his anticipatory bail plea. The court denied bail on the grounds that George had violated conditions from a previous hate speech case in 2022. His surrender came after two days of intense speculation, with police attempting to take him into custody earlier in the morning. A police team had visited his residence, but he was not present at the time, leading to tensions as BJP workers gathered in large numbers to protest. George, accompanied by his family and party supporters, arrived at the court amidst heavy security arrangements.
The case against George stems from a controversial television debate on January 5, during which he allegedly made inflammatory remarks against Muslims, equating them with terrorists and demanding that they leave for Pakistan. The remarks led to a formal complaint filed by Erattupetta resident Muhammed Shihab, under Sections 196(1)(a) and 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for promoting enmity between religious groups and outraging religious sentiments, along with Section 120(o) of the Kerala Police Act. George had initially sought anticipatory bail from a sessions court in Kottayam, but his plea was denied on February 6, prompting him to approach the High Court, which also refused relief. The High Court emphasized that granting him bail would set a dangerous precedent, allowing individuals to violate court-imposed conditions without facing consequences.
This is not George’s first brush with controversy over hate speech. In April 2022, he was booked for inflammatory remarks at the Ananthapuri Hindu Maha Sammelanam, followed by another case in Kochi for delivering a communally sensitive speech later that year. Despite repeated warnings and legal actions, he continued to make provocative statements, leading to his current legal troubles. With his surrender, legal proceedings are set to move forward, and authorities are expected to take a firm stance against repeated violations of laws aimed at curbing communal tensions. The case has sparked a political debate in Kerala, with opposition parties calling for stricter action against leaders who incite religious disharmony.
