Hate speech: HC directs Natesan to surrender by Jan 12

The Kerala High Court today directed SNDP leader Vellapally Natesan to surrender before the investigating officer on or before January 12 in connection with the case registered against him for making an alleged communal hate speech at Aluva last month.
The direction was given by Justice P Bhavadasan while considering the anticipatory bail application filed by Natesan, General Secretary of Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam, an organisation of backward Ezhava community.
He has been asked to surrender before the investigating officer on or before January 12 between 10am-11am.
The court directed police to produce Natesan before the Magistrate and directed the Magistrate to grant him bail.

The accused has been asked to appear before the court as and when directed by police.
A case under section 153(A) of IPC (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth and language) punishable with imprisonment for three years had been filed against Natesan after he made the "offending" speech.

The Court also heard the speech made by Natesan which was recorded in compact disc.
According to the petitioner, he was attacking the "discriminatory" treatment of government in granting financial help to people.
Director General of Prosecutions T Asaf Ali opposed the grant of anticipatory bail and submitted that Natesan's speech tends to encourage hatred among different communities.

While leading the "Samathwa Munnetta Yatra" organised to unite Hindu caste outfits, Natesan had alleged that the Congress-led UDF government was giving financial assistance to families of mishap victims on the basis of caste and religion.
He was referring to the compensation awarded by government to the family of Noushad who died after inhaling poisonous gas inside a manhole while trying to save two labourers from a pit in Kozhikode.