BENGALURU: Even before the Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2025 has formally become law, the state Home Department’s actions have triggered a major political controversy, with the police issuing what critics describe as a “premature and unlawful” notice to a BJP leader. The move has drawn sharp condemnation from the opposition, which has accused the Congress-led government of misuse of police powers and undermining constitutional procedure.
The controversy centres around a notice served on BJP leader Vikas Puttur by the Chikkamagaluru district police ahead of the Hindu Samajotsava procession. Vikas Puttur was invited as one of the main speakers at the event. The police notice warns him against delivering any speech that could allegedly fall under the provisions of the Karnataka Hate Speech Bill, even though the Bill has not yet received the Governor’s assent and is therefore not enforceable as law.
The notice explicitly states that the programme should be conducted in accordance with the Hate Speech Bill, 2025, and cautions that legal action would be initiated in case of violations. This has raised serious questions about the legality of invoking a proposed law that has not yet come into force. Legal experts and opposition leaders argue that such action amounts to pre-emptive policing based on a non-existent statute.
Reacting strongly, Rajajinagar BJP MLA and former minister Suresh Kumar took to social media to criticise the Home Department and the police. He questioned whether the Hate Speech Bill had become law or received the Governor’s assent. “We were aware of anticipatory bail, but anticipatory notice even before a law comes into force is a new and dangerous precedent,” he said, calling it an alarming development in governance.
Suresh Kumar also questioned the selective nature of police action, pointing out that while police were acting with extreme caution against a BJP functionary, Congress leader Rajeev Gowda, accused of threatening and abusing a municipal commissioner in Shidlaghatta, is yet to be arrested. “Why this double standard?” he asked, alleging political pressure and bias in law enforcement.
The BJP maintains that Vikas Puttur is a senior party worker with no criminal background and that issuing such a notice ahead of a cultural and religious event is an attempt to intimidate and silence opposition voices. Party leaders argue that existing laws such as the Indian Penal Code and Supreme Court guidelines already empower the police to act against genuine hate speech, making the use of an unenforced Bill unnecessary and suspicious.
The police notice itself lays down several conditions, including instructions to ensure that speeches do not hurt sentiments of other communities, do not incite hatred or violence, and that the procession is conducted peacefully without disrupting public order. While these conditions may appear routine, the explicit reference to the Hate Speech Bill, 2025, has become the crux of the controversy.
Opposition leaders allege that the Congress government is attempting to normalise the use of proposed laws even before legislative and constitutional processes are completed. They warn that such actions could erode democratic safeguards and create a chilling effect on free speech.
