Madhya Pradesh HC Grants Bail To Congress Leader in Case Lodged Over His 'Kill Modi' Remark
A video went viral in which former State Minister Raja Pateria could be seen giving a speech using derogatory language for PM Modi and asking the people to "kill" him in order to "save" the Constitution.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court has recently granted bail to Congress leader Raja Pateria- accused of goading a group of people to "kill" the Prime Minister of the country Narendra Modi.
The single judge bench of Justice Sanjay Dwivedi allowed the second bail application moved by Pateria while without commenting anything on the merits of the case.
Allegations against Pateria, who has been a state minister in the past, are that in an ongoing meeting of Congressmen, he made a speech overtly using filthy and intimidating language and asked the people to "kill" PM Modi in order to save the Constitution. Allegedly, he also instigated the persons of minorities in the wake of their religion, caste and language.
When a video of the said meeting went viral, the Madhya Pradesh government ordered a police case against the Congress leader. Thereafter, a case was registered against Pateria on December 12, at Pawai police station in Panna under Sections 451, 504, 505(1)(B), 505(1)(C), 506, 153-B(1)(C), 115, 117 of Indian Penal Code.
Pateria had earlier moved a bail application which the high court rejected on January 10, 2023. However, while rejecting the first bail application, the court had granted Pateria liberty to resuscitate the prayer of bail by filing a new application after a period of thirty days from the date of the order.
In the second bail plea, Pateria's counsel argued that the earlier bail application was rejected by the high court saying that looking at the manner in which the crime had been committed and the words used for the Prime Minister, it was not acceptable.
However, looking at the facts that chargesheet has already been filed and Pateria, who is also an Ex-Minister, has been in custody since December 13, 2022, the court may consider the second application, his counsel argued.
Accordingly, Court took into account the earlier order and the liberty granted to Pateria to revive the application after the period of thirty days and allowed the present plea.
Case Title: Raja Pateria v. State of Madhya Pradesh