'Not A Political Speech, But Instigation Against Community': Karnataka Govt Opposes RSS Leader's Quash Plea In High Court

The Karnataka Government on Wednesday (February 11) opposed RSS Leader Prabhakar Bhat's plea for quashing an FIR over alleged hate speech he delivered in a college and was circulated on a YouTube channel, contending that the speech was not a political speech but one made against a particular community. 

The Additional Special Public Prosecutor appearing for the State submitted before Justice M Nagaprasanna that the interim order staying further investigation against Bhat in view of Supreme Court's recent decision upholding Telangana High Court guidelines on registration of FIRs over social media posts was not applicable to the petitioner. 

She submitted that the Telangana High Court judgment pertained to political speeches whereas the speech made by the petitioner was against a certain community. For context the Telangana High Court had quashed three FIRs registered against one Nalla Balu over his posts on X criticising the Congress party under Sections 192, 353(1)(b), 352, and 356 read with Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The counsel said that the speech which was subject matter of Telangana High Court order did not pertain to any religion or community. 

She submitted that before registration of an FIR a preliminary inquiry was conducted and a prima facie case was made out against the petitioner. 

She further said that notice under Section 35(3) BNSS was also issued in the present case and the judgment of Arnesh Kumar v. State of Bihar had also been complied with. 

"In the present case it is not a political speech that he has delivered...He is instigating youngsters against another community...He has not taken bail, he has no apprehension of arrest. We have not taken any coercive action, we have issued notice under Section 35(3) BNSS...Incident has taken place in college. Students who were there were around 1500-2000 students...," she added. 

Noting that since interim order was granted earlier and the complainant is yet to be served, the court directed that the complainant be served by way of hand summons and listed the matter on February 20. 

Bhat has moved the high court seeking quashing of an FIR over registered at Puttur town for offences under BNS Sections 196(Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) ,299(Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), 302(Uttering words, etc., with deliberate intent to wound religious feelings of any person), 353(2)(Statements conducing to public mischief), 3(5)(Common Intention).

Case title: DR. PRABHAKAR BHAT v/s THE STATE OF KARNATAKA

CRL.P 941/2026