Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Friday refused to grant immediate relief to Nagpur-based former journalist Prashant Koratkar, booked for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his son Chhatrapati Sambhaji.
Koratkar has approached the HC seeking pre-arrest bail claiming his voice was morphed and his social media hacked.
Koratkar is accused of making derogatory remarks against Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his son Sambhaji Maharaj, as well as allegedly threatening historian Indrajeet Sawant. The Kolhapur police registered a case against him under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) for promoting hatred or enmity between groups.
Sawant alleged that on February 25, he received a call at 12:03 AM from a number linked to Koratkar. Instead of immediately approaching the police, Sawant uploaded a video about the incident on Facebook at 3:13 AM. The FIR was registered at 5:45 PM, over 17 hours later.
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 2.
Koratkar further pointed to his contributions to preserving the Maratha warrior’s legacy, noting that he had produced a documentary on Shivaji Maharaj, published on YouTube on June 23, 2024.
Meanwhile, an intervention has been filed by Ashok Padul, represented by advocate Ashish Gaikwad, opposing any relief. Padul is the complainant in another FIR from Jalna, later transferred to Kolhapur.
Gaikwad argued that a prima facie case is made against Koratkar and that apart from the FIR filed by Sawant, two more FIRs have been registered. Justice Rajesh Patil has scheduled the hearing for March 24.
Citing public outrage and threats, Koratkar has also sought police protection. He claims the allegations were a deliberate attempt to provoke unrest and that he had to clarify his stance in media interviews, stating the audio-video clip was morphed, possibly using AI tools.
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