Bengaluru: The High Court has granted an interim stay on the trial against Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) karyakarta Dr Prabhakar Bhat Kalladka. The stay was issued in response to a petition filed by Bhat, seeking the cancellation of both the trial and the related case registered against him for making alleged derogatory remarks against Muslim women
Justice M. Nagaprasanna, heading a single-member bench, heard Bhatt’s application. The stay order was granted while the court considers the merits of the petition.
The case stems from an incident on December 24, 2023, in Srirangapatna, Mandya district, where Dr. Prabhakar Bhat allegedly made derogatory remarks against women of other religions. Bhat reportedly stated that Muslim women had “found a permanent husband after Modi came,” which sparked outrage.
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On December 26, 2023, social worker Najma Nazir bin Nazir Ahmad filed a complaint at Srirangapatna Police Station. The complaint accused Bhatt of various crimes, including violating women’s privacy, sexually abusing women, inciting public violence against women, threatening women sexually and with violence, making obscene remarks in public, and disturbing the dignity of women. Nazir’s complaint called for appropriate legal action against Bhatt and others under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Based on the complaint, the Srirangapatna Town police have registered an FIR and booked Bhat under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including Section 294 (dealing with uttering obscene words in a public place), Section 509 (dealing with words or gestures that intrude into the privacy of women), and Section 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion), and Section 298 (deliberate hurting of religious feelings).
The Sankeertana Yatra organised by Hindu Jagrana Vedike at Srirangapatna in Mandya district was held under tight security on December 24. The police conducted an investigation, which led to a charge sheet being submitted to the Srirangapatna JMFC inquiry court. Bhatt, challenging this process, Bhat filed an application in the High Court seeking to annul the trial proceedings and dismiss the case.
The High Court’s interim stay halts the trial proceedings while it reviews Bhatt’s petition. This decision has temporarily relieved Bhatt from the legal proceedings initiated against him.
