Several cases and repeated offences related to derogatory and vituperative speeches targeting the Muslim community prompted the Karnataka High Court to urge RSS leader Dr Kalladka Prabhakar to stop spewing venom in his speeches in the future, while hearing his plea to quash an FIR accusing him of spreading communal enmity through comments about Muslim women and birth rates.
The court was also informed that Kalladka, who has faced multiple hate-speech cases in Dakshina Kannada over the years, had already undertaken not to make similar remarks in future. Senior advocate Arun Shyam, appearing for the RSS leader, conveyed the assurance during proceedings arising from a complaint filed by Eshwari Padmunja.
The matter came up before Justice M. Nagaprasanna, who was hearing Kalladka’s plea to quash a criminal case filed on the basis of a complaint alleging that his comments concerning Muslim women, demographic trends and birth rates were calculated to stoke religious animosity.
During the proceedings, the court orally observed that there was little reason to provoke recurring complaints through provocative rhetoric, remarking that speeches need not be laced with “venom”.
The complainant, Ishwari Padmunja of the Karnataka State Dalita Hakkugala Rajya Samiti, contended that Kalladka had repeatedly employed public platforms to disseminate divisive narratives targeting Muslims.
Seeking restrictions on his future speeches, the complainant argued that the activist’s repeated interventions had contributed to communal discord and warranted judicial scrutiny.
According to the complaint, Kalladka drew comparisons between Muslim and Hindu birth rates, voiced apprehensions about the declining Hindu population in constituencies such as Ullal, and urged Hindu families to have at least three children.
He was also alleged to have linked such appeals to increasing the Hindu population in the name of Lord Mahalingeshwara. The complainant maintained that the remarks affronted the dignity of women from both communities, promoted religious hostility and threatened public tranquillity.
Following the complaint, the Puttur Rural Police registered a case against Kalladka under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The High Court has now tagged the matter with connected petitions and scheduled further consideration on June 16.
The latest controversy forms part of a long trail of legal challenges confronting the 83-year-old activist from Dakshina Kannada. During the hearing, the complainant’s counsel informed the court that as many as 12 FIRs had been registered against him, most involving allegations of hate speech, promotion of communal enmity and derogatory remarks directed at minorities.
Complaints against Kalladka have surfaced periodically since 2018, with cases emerging in successive years over speeches delivered at religious gatherings, political events and public meetings.
Most recently, Bantwal Rural Police registered yet another FIR on June 2 over an alleged anti-Muslim speech delivered at a condolence meeting in Kavalapadur village, underscoring the persistent legal controversies surrounding his public rhetoric.