P C George gets bail on medical grounds

The Erattupetta magistrate court has granted bail to BJP leader and former MLA P C George in a hate speech case, considering his health condition.
George, 74, had been remanded to judicial custody for 14 days on Monday, February 24, after surrendering to authorities. He was subsequently admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of Kottayam Government Medical College Hospital due to variations in his electrocardiogram readings.
The case against George stems from allegations of delivering a hate speech targeting a minority community during a television channel discussion on January 5. Following a complaint by the Youth League Erattupetta Mandalam Committee, the police registered a case under relevant sections of the law.
Prior to his surrender, George's anticipatory bail pleas were rejected by both the Kottayam Sessions Court and the Kerala High Court. After his surrender, the Erattupetta Magistrate Court initially remanded him to judicial custody until March 10. However, considering his deteriorating health, the court granted bail upon submission of medical documents.
This incident is not George's first encounter with legal issues related to hate speech. In April 2022, he faced similar charges for allegedly making inflammatory remarks against the Muslim community during a public event. Despite multiple legal challenges, George has maintained his political presence in the region. Open URL