Thiruvananthapuram, May 26: Seven-time MLA and Kerala Janapaksham (Secular) leader PC George, who was arrested in Kochi over hate speech against Muslims, was remanded in 14-day judicial custody here on Thursday morning.
The former lawmaker was brought to Armed Reserve Police Camp at Nandavanam here from Kochi at 12.25 am. Later, he was produced before the Magistrate’s chamber at Vanchiyoor court at 7.45 am. The court remanded him to judicial custody citing the violation of bail norms.
The former MLA was sent to the Poojappura District Jail after completing his medical checkup at the Government General Hospital.
The Thiruvananthapuram Fort Police who reached Kochi last evening recorded the arrest of the former MLA, who was taken into custody by the Palarivattom Police. Later, he was brought to Thiruvananthapuram by road covering around 260 km in nearly 2 hours and 20 minutes, PC George’s son alleged.
He also questioned the intention of the police for sending him judicial custody just hours before the high court considering his case this morning.
PC George, whose bail has been cancelled by Thriruvananthapuram Judicial First Class Magistrate Court on Wednesday, was taken to custody when he reached Palarivattom Police station for the interrogation in connection with his hate speech made at a temple festival at ‘Vennala’ in Ernakulam on May 10.
Though PC George was granted interim anticipatory bail by the Kerala High Court on May 23 on his ‘Vennala’ hate speech against a minority community, the Thiruvananthapuram First Class Magistrate Court Wednesday cancelled his bail granted on May 1 on his controversial hate speech at Ananthapuri Hindu Maha Sammelan on April 30.
Earlier, the Palarivattom Police also served a notice to PC George asking him to appear before them for an interrogation relating to his hate speech made on May 10.
While cancelling the bail, the Thiruvananthapuram First Class Magistrate Court said the Thiruvananthapuram Fort Assistant Commissioner S Shaji can arrest the former MLA who violated the bail conditions.
On Wednesday evening, BJP State President K Surendran, BJP’s Thrikkakkara candidate AN Radhakrishnan, BJP leaders Sobha Surendran and PK Krishnasas also reached Palarivattom Police station to extend their support to the former MLA.
The first case was charged against PC George in connection with his controversial speech at Ananthapuri Hindu Maha Sammelan alleging that restaurants and tea shops managed by Muslims are selling teas laced with infertility drugs to make a section of people ‘infertile’ as part of their strategy to increase their population to seize the control of the country.
He made his second controversial remarks just 10 days after his release on bail in the case filed in Thiruvananthapuram.
Earlier, PC George said he does not need the support or votes from any religion or radical group who do not love the country. Saying that he sticks firm in the controversial remarks, he said his remarks were not against businessmen like MA Yusuf Ali, but was against small traders influenced by radical Muslim groups.
Police filed the case against him under sections 153A and 295A of the non-bailable section.
Tension prevailed in front of the AR Police Camp here when a group of Popular Front of India (PFI) and Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) activists staged a march in protest against his remarks against Muslim traders.
Following the protest march, the workers of BJP and RSS also reached there and shouted slogans against the arrest and extended staged their support to the arrested leader.
