'Aren't you a public figure with vast experience? do you think you can violate court order?' HC lashes out at PC George

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court has sharply criticized PC George, who sought anticipatory bail in a case concerning communal remarks made during a television debate. The court pointed out that George had violated the conditions of his previous bail, which explicitly prohibited such statements.

Justice P.V. Kunhikrishnan questioned how a seasoned public figure and former MLA like George could disregard a court order. The judge indicated that a decision regarding the anticipatory bail plea would be made on Wednesday.

In his defense, George's lawyer argued that the controversial remarks were made unintentionally during the debate and that his client had apologized immediately. The lawyer claimed that George had not violated the prior bail conditions, which only forbade public statements or speeches. He further argued that the comments were made in the heat of the debate, and therefore anticipatory bail should be granted.

However, the prosecution countered, highlighting that George had a history of making such remarks. He had been arrested earlier for breaching the conditions of a Magistrate Court’s bail order. In 2022, the High Court had issued a similar warning to him regarding controversial statements. The prosecution emphasized that George's actions showed a blatant disregard for court orders, with the belief that he could break them without facing consequences.

While the court refrained from discussing the details of the case, it stressed that violating bail conditions was a serious offence. The judge also reminded the court that George was not an ordinary individual but one with significant experience, raising concerns about the likelihood of him repeating such behaviour. The court further expressed concern that allowing such violations could set a dangerous precedent, where others might follow suit, believing they too could flout court orders without repercussions.