from special correspondent

Bangalore: The state high court has issued a notice to the state government, the home department and RSS leader Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat in connection with a provocative speech which Bhat had delivered at the Hindu Samajotsava in Uppinangady in Dakshina Kannada district a few months ago.

While hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Komu Sauharda Vedike president Suresh Bhat Bakrabail, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Vikramjit Sen and Justice Aravind Kumar served notices on the three parties and directed them to file objections. The bench also fixed the next hearing to be on October 8.

In his petition, Suresh Bhat Bakrabail had sought appointment of a special investigation team to go into the hate speech issue. The advocate for the petitioner said that Prabhakar Bhat had delivered a speech in Uppinangady on January 22, 2012, which were derogatory to Muslims and their religion, and which had threatened public peace. A case had been filed under IPC section 153A and 295A. The police have filed only a first information report (FIR) but have not investigated into the matter, he stated.

Instead, the accused was given honour by the police, said the petitioner. A petition in the matter had been submitted to the state governor. Yet, there was no response. Hence the petitioner has requested the honourable court to intervene in the matter and direct that a special investigation team be appointed.