National

Hate Speech Case: PC George Remanded To 14-Day Police Custody

The Erattupetta Judicial First Class Magistrate Court has remanded Bharatiya Janata Party leader PC George to 14 days of police custody following a judicial assessment of his medical condition.

As a result, he was subsequently transferred to Kottayam Medical College for a thorough medical examination.

George’s legal entanglement originates from allegations of hate speech, which led to his voluntary surrender before the Erattupetta court after the Kerala High Court rejected his anticipatory bail petition.

The case is rooted in remarks he made during a televised debate in January, which were deemed inflammatory and prompted a formal complaint by a Muslim Youth League representative.

During the debate, George stated, “I am sitting in Erattupetta and saying this. Out of the 40,000 population here, 38,600 are Muslims. There are no such communal forces without any conscience like you anywhere in this world. Do you have a conscience? Do you have a soft approach towards people from other religious groups? You should learn about the diversity we show. Are we saying that any Muslims should be killed? If you are a Muslim, then you are communal. It’s become like that. You don’t want India but Pakistan. Go to Pakistan.”

In response, the Erattupetta police initiated legal proceedings against George under several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Kerala Police Act, specifically citing Sections BNS 196(1)(a), 299, and 120(o).

Efforts to detain George at his residence in Poonjar near Erattupetta were initially unsuccessful, as he was not present at the time. Prior to this, he had formally requested a two-day period to voluntarily appear before the court.

A procedural inconsistency in the police custody application resulted in the court remanding him until 6 PM, instructing law enforcement to rectify and resubmit the application in compliance with judicial protocols.

Following widespread controversy, George later issued a public statement on Facebook retracting his prior assertion that “all Muslims in India are terrorists.” He extended an apology to members of the Muslim community, recognizing their patriotism and expressing regret for his remarks.

However, he maintained concerns about a “small percentage” of individuals whom he alleged hold extremist, anti-national ideologies. “I will always strongly oppose them and all those who silently support them,” he reaffirmed.