Sudheeran flays HC for granting anticipatory bail to Vellapally

Thiruvananthapuram: KPCC president V.M Sudheeran Thursday flayed the Kerala High Court for granting anticipatory bail to SNDP general secretary Vellapally Natesan in a criminal case registered against him over his controversial ‘hate speech’.

“The High Court’s remark in its order granting anticipatory bail to Vellapally Natesan was wrong. The court made the remark without considering the case diary,” Sudheeran alleged.

Meanwhile, senior Congress leader K. Muraleedharan blamed the state home department for the anticipatory bail granted to Natesan.

“He was granted the anticipatory bail due to lapses on the part of the home department,” he said.

On Wednesday, the Kerala High Court granted anticipatory bail to Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan in a criminal case registered against him on charges of promoting enmity among different groups on grounds of religion.

While granting him the anticipatory bail, the court had said prima facie it was difficult to hold that the objectionable words used in Vellapally's speech had the effect of promoting or attempting to promote religious enmity.

"The objectionable portion would indicate that the petitioner was agitated about the State's attitude towards different communities. Even though State proclaims that it has not patronized any religion, it shows discrimination in conferring benefits between various communities and religious groups," the court said.