Kottayam (Kerala), February 28, 2025 – BJP leader and former MLA, P C George, was granted bail by a magisterial court in Erattupetta, Kottayam district, in a case related to an alleged hate speech against a minority community.
George had surrendered before the Erattupetta court on Monday, following the rejection of his anticipatory bail plea by the Kerala High Court. Subsequently, he was remanded to police custody. The Kerala High Court, while dismissing George's plea earlier this week, had noted that granting anticipatory bail in such cases might send an inappropriate message to society.
The charges against George stemmed from a complaint filed by Muhamed Shihab, a leader of the Muslim Youth League. Shihab accused George of making provocative statements that could potentially incite religious tensions during a discussion on a television channel. Initially, George's anticipatory bail petition was rejected by the Kottayam District Sessions Court, prompting him to seek relief from the High Court.
With the court's latest decision, George is now out on bail, although the investigation into the matter continues.
