Daijiworld Media Network - Madikeri (SP)
Madikeri, Nov 14: Journalist Santosh Thammaiah, who was arrested for his alleged derogatory remarks against the Prophet during a programme titled 'Tipu Karala Mukhagala Anavarana (unveiling of dreadful faces of Tipu)' at Gonikoppal in Kodagu district on November 5, secured conditional bail from the court.
Judge of the court, Mohan Gowda, who heard bail application moved by the journalist for over 30 minutes, granted conditional bail. The Gonikoppal police who arrested the journalist from the house of his in-laws at Javanayyana Palya in Madhugiri taluk, Tumakuru district at 11 pm on Monday, produced him in the court on Tuesday. The police have charged him with passing derisive remarks about the Prophet and Tipu Sultan.
Santosh Thammaiah
Thammaiah reportedly made the above remarks on November 5. Asif from Siddapur in the district had filed a complaint against him in Gonikoppal police station, based on which first information report was registered.
There has been widespread resentment among the people of the district about the arrest of the journalist. Many have been saying that the police are prompt in arresting people speaking against Tipu, whereas remarks made against Ram go unnoticed. Hindu organizations held protest in the town on Tuesday. Hindu Suraksha Vedike has also called for an hour's symbolic Kodagu district bandh on Wednesday from 12 to 1 pm.
In the meantime, four others named in the first information report, P Appanna, Addanda Kariappa, Sudhakar Hosalli and Robert Rozario run the risk of being arrested by the police relating to this case.