Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Monday disposed of pre arrest bail plea of Nagpur based journalist Prashant Koratkar, as infructuous. Justice Rajesh Patil said that considering his arrest, nothing survives in the plea. The HC had refused to grant immediate relief to Koratkar on March 21.
Koratka is booked for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his son Chhatrapati Sambhaji. Koratkar had approached the HC seeking pre-arrest bail claiming his voice was morphed and his social media hacked.
Apart from making derogatory remarks against Maratha warriors, Koratkar allegedly threatened historian Indrajeet Sawant. The Kolhapur police registered a case against him under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) for promoting hatred or enmity between groups.
Koratkar argued this delay indicated an ulterior motive. His plea stated: “The First Informant had the intention and motive to create enmity between religious groups and outrage religious feelings and intentionally provoke a breach of peace by uploading audio-video on social media in the midnight.”
After his anticipatory bail plea was rejected by the sessions court on March 18, Koratkar moved the High Court, contending that he was never summoned for questioning and the allegations were “false, fabricated, and frivolous.”
However, he issued a general public apology “in case anyone’s sentiments are hurt by using his identity.” He also said he offered flowers and paid homage to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on March.
An intervention application filed by Ashok Padul, represented by advocate Ashish Gaikwad, opposing any relief to Koratkar, is also disposed off. Padul is the complainant in another FIR from Jalna, later transferred to Kolhapur.
