Kalicharan Maharaj, arrested for hate speech, gets bail after 3 months

Kalicharan Maharaj was arrested for derogatory comments against Mahatma Gandhi at the dharma sansad in Rapur

Published on: Apr 2, 2022, 24:41:03 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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RAIPUR: Kalicharan Maharaj alias Abhijeet Dhananjay Saraag, the controversial Hindu seer arrested in December in a sedition case registered against him for derogatory comments against Mahatma Gandhi, has been granted bail by the Chhattisgarh high court on Friday.

Controversial Hindu seer Kalicharan Maharaj was arrested in December, setting up a huge row between Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh (ANI)

Justice Arvind Singh Chandel of the high court’s Bilaspur bench ordered Kalicharan release on bail on furnishing a personal bond of ₹1 lakh with two sureties of ₹50,000 each, his counsel Kishore Bhaduri said, according to PTI.

Kalicharan was arrested after the Chhattisgarh Police registered an FIR against Kalicharan Maharaj under sections 505 (2) (making statement that create or promotes enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes) and 294 (obscene acts) for allegedly using derogatory words against Mahatma Gandhi. Later, police added 124 A (sedition) and four other sections of the IPC in the case.

In December last year, during the conclusion of the two-day ‘dharma sansad’ (religious parliament) in Raipur, the seer allegedly used abusive words for Mahatma Gandhi, and asked people to elect a staunch Hindu leader as the head of the government to protect the religion.

“The applicant has been falsely implicated in this case due to political rivalry. The offence under Section 124 A of the Indian Penal Code is prima facie not made out against the applicant. The decisive ingredients for establishing the offence is missing in the First Information Report, there is no suggestion that the applicant did anything as against the government of Chhattisgarh, Government of India or any other Governments of States. The complaint filed against the applicant contains no averment that the applicant did anything as against the governments,” Kalicharan’s lawyer argued.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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