Police issue notice to Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat to appear for questioning in hate speech case

MANGALURU: The police have issued a notice to senior RSS functionary Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat, directing him to appear for questioning at the Puttur Rural police station on October 30 in connection with a case related to his alleged inflammatory speech.

The case relates to a speech made by Prabhakar Bhat at a Deepotsav programme in Uppala, Puttur, where he allegedly made inflammatory remarks that sparked controversy. The notice was issued under Section 35(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023.

A case was registered against Prabhakar Bhat for allegedly making a provocative speech that hurt the sentiments of the Muslim community and damaged the dignity of women. A complaint was filed by Eshwari Padmunja, a Communist leader, after which the police registered an FIR under various sections, including 79, 196, 299, 302, and 3(5) of the BNSS.

The district and sessions court in Puttur had earlier restrained the police from taking any coercive action against Prabhakar Bhat. It has now directed the police to issue a notice to him to appear for questioning. The court has adjourned the hearing to October 29.