Karnataka High Court Stays Proceedings Against BJP MLA Harish Poonja For Allegedly Giving 'Hate Speech' At Temple Event

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday (May 22) by way of an interim order, stayed all further proceedings against BJP MLA Harish Poonja, accused of allegedly making a hate speech earlier this month, during an event oragnised by a temple in Mangalore.

A vacation bench of Justice S Rachaiah passed the order while hearing a petition filed by Poonja seeking to quash the FIR dated May 4, registered against him under Section 196 and 353 (2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The court said “Having considered the stay granted in all three (other) FIR's registered against the petitioner, passed by the coordinate bench of this court, it is approrpriate to grant stay as prayed for, till the next date of hearing June 18.”

The petitioner's counsel argued that no untoward incident had happened after the alleged statements were made. Moreover, there was no primafacie materials to attract the offences registered against the petitioner. The additional public prosecutor B N Jagadeesha though contended that the petition was not maintainable as the police have filed a chargesheet in the case and thus the plea has to be amended.

Further it was contended that in the area in which the alleged sppech was addressed the entire community irrespective of the religion have cooperated and in land belonging to minority they themselves come forward to put up shamiana and they were coordial. But the petitioner coming and making such a speech will only institgate the people. Reference was also made to Supreme Court judgment wherein court has asked to registere suo-motu cases in such incidents.

The counsel for the complainant referred to the speech and contended that “Our is a Constitutional country and not a religious country like any other country, therefore this sought of attitude, let the law take its own course, let there be a trial and there is sufficient evidence since chargesheet has been filed.”

Poonja was booked by the Uppinangady police on a complaint made by one SB Ibrahim. Following, videos of the speech made by the petitioner during the Brahmakalashotsava event at the Batrabailu Gopalakrishna Temple in Thekkar held on May 3, went viral on social media.

Later in a statement issued by the trust managing Gopalakrishna Temple at Bhattarabailu in Tekkar village of Belthangady taluk, Dakshina Kannada district, had apologised to Muslims who were hurt by the alleged hate speech

Case Title: Harish Poonja AND State of Karnataka

Case No: WP 13937/2025