Court remands P.C. George in judicial custody in hate speech case

Former Kerala legislator P. C. George has been remanded in judicial custody for 14 days in a hate speech case following high drama that led to his arrest

A magistrate court here remanded Kerala Janapaksham (Secular) leader and former legislator P. C. George in judicial custody for 14 days in the Ananthapuri Hindu Mahasammelan hate speech case. Subsequently, the police incarcerated him at the Thiruvananthapuram District Sub Jail, Poojappura.

The Fort police had arrested him early Thursday for allegedly airing communally inflammatory remarks at the meeting in mid-May.

Earlier, the court had revoked Mr. George's bail in the case after the magistrate found the ex-MLA had violated bail conditions by repeating the divisive theme at a public function at Vennala in Kochi days later.

The court perused footage and other digital evidence submitted by the prosecution, and also factored the State's plea that the magistrate had not heard the prosecution while releasing Mr. George on bail.

After the mandatory medical examination, the police produced Mr. George at the magistrate court in Vanchiyoor. The check-up included a COVID-19 test, which reportedly turned negative.

Mr. George's counsel said the politician had raised no complaint against the police. The magistrate had specifically asked the arrestee whether the police had mistreated or manhandled him.

However, Mr. George's lawyer said he argued in court that his client was the victim of a political witch hunt. He said that the police had hounded him after picking him up from Kochi on Wednesday and taking him to Thiruvananthapuram.