Bengaluru, Jul 22 (DHNS): The High Court of Karnataka on Thursday granted stay on the sanction granted by the state government to prosecute RSS leader Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat, in a petition seeking quashing of two FIRs filed against him in 2014.

Justice Aravind Kumar granted stay on the sanction order granted by the state government as required for cases filed under Section 153A and 505(2) of the Indian Penal Code - (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth etc and statements given to conduct public mischief).

Bhat moved the court challenging the sanction order and the FIR filed by N Abdulla Nadaje and Aboobakkar Siddiq both from Bantwal taluk, Dakshina Kannada district. The FIR has said that Bhat had delivered inflammatory speeches which created communal disturbance and disharmony, hurting the sentiments of the Muslim community.

Bhat has contended that the state government has granted the sanction order against him only with an intention to take political revenge. Bhat contended that there is absolutely no material in support of the allegation and the action of the police and the state government is without application of mind.

He has sought quashing of the grant of sanction by the state government and the FIR filed against him.

Earlier this month, the court had stayed the sanction granted by the state government to prosecute him in a petition seeking quashing of the FIR filed against him in another case in 2015.