Sri Rama Sene chief Pramod Muthalik, arrested on charges of making inflammatory speeches during communal riots in Mysore and lodged in Belgaum jail, was granted conditional bail on Tuesday by a court in Mysore. Local Sene activist Suryanarayana gave a surety of Rs 10,000 and another self-surety of an equal amount is to be given by Muthalik.
The bail was granted by the Judicial Magistrate First Court. Earlier, the public prosecutor opposed the bail saying Udayagiri suburbs in Mysore had returned to normalcy and any inflammatory speeches by leaders like Muthalik would disturb the peace.
Lawyers defending Muthalik, however, maintained that the opposition to the bail was based on allegations and "not substantiated by facts". The 46-year-old leader of the right-wing group was arrested here last Friday for allegedly making speeches hurting sentiments of a particular community during the Mysore communal clashes in June which left three persons dead. On June 2, communal clashes broke out in Mysore over the alleged defiling of a madrassa.
Muthalik was remanded in judicial custody till August 7 by a local court and shifted to Bellary jail two days ago where he launched an indefinite fast last night protesting against his arrest.