Kalicharan Granted Bail in Pune Hate Speech Case, To Remain in Custody
He will continue to remain in judicial custody for his derogatory remarks against Mahatma Gandhi.
Self-proclaimed 'godman' Kalicharan alias Abhijit Dhananjay Sarag was granted bail by a Pune court on Friday, 7 January, on a surety amount of Rs 25,000.
(Photo altered by The Quint)
Self-proclaimed 'godman' Kalicharan alias Abhijit Dhananjay Sarag was granted bail in a hate speech case by a Pune court on Friday, 7 January, on a surety amount of Rs 25,000, news agency ANI reported.
Just two days ago, a Pune court had sent Kalicharan to one-day police custody after the Pune Police took custody of him from its counterpart in Raipur in connection with the hate speeches made by him during the "Shivpratap Din" programme held in the city on 19 December.
The programme was organised by Samasta Hindutva Aghadi at Natubag in Shukrawar Peth to mark the killing of Adilshahi General Afzal Khan by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in 1659, The Indian Express had reported.
Kalicharan was previously arrested on 30 December for making derogatory remarks against Mahatma Gandhi at the Chhattisgarh 'Dharam Sansad'. A day later, he was sent to judicial custody till 13 January.
In purported videos of the event that have been circulated on social media, Kalicharan can be heard saying:
"See, doing operations is necessary. For these pimples and boils. Otherwise, they turn into cancer. I'm not asking you to do riots..." Kalicharan can be further heard saying in the video.
The Dharma Sansad event, where the contentious remarks were made, was attended by a number of political leaders, including that of the ruling Congress.
A number of party leaders, including MLA Vikas Upadhyay and former Mayor Pramod Dubey, had marked their attendance at the Kalash Yatra that was organised on the first day of the Sansad.
The Kalash Yatra was inaugurated by the senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former chief minister of the state, Raman Singh.
(With inputs from ANI.)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)