‘Kill Modi’ Statement: MP High Court Rejects Congress Leader Raja Pateria’s Bail Plea

GG News Bureau

Jabalpur, 13th Jan. The bail plea of Congress leader and former state minister Raja Pateria, who was arrested last month for his controversial “be ready to kill Modi to save the Constitution” remark about the prime minister, was denied by the Madhya Pradesh High Court.

In an order issued on Wednesday, Justice Sanjay Dwivedi said there was no reason for the applicant, a public figure, to use such derogatory language about the country’s prime minister.

“It is not expected from the public leader to use foul language disparaging the image of a leader of high-up-place, like President and Prime Minister and engendering consternation in the society”, the HC said while rejecting Pateria’s bail plea.

Pateria was arrested by police on December 13, 2022, from his residence in Hata town, Damoh district, and is currently being held in judicial custody.

After a court in Pawai, Panna district, refused to grant him bail, his lawyers petitioned the High Court.

Pateria could be heard telling Congress workers at a meeting in Pawai in a video that surfaced on social media, “Be ready to kill Modi. Kill in the sense of defeating him….. Modi will end the elections. Modi will divide on the basis of religion, caste and language. The future of Dalits, tribes and minorities is in danger. If you want to save the Constitution, then be ready to kill Modi. Kill in the sense of defeating him.”

Pateria was charged with various Indian Penal Code Sections, including 451 (house-trespass), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 505 (statements conducting public mischief), 506 (criminal intimidation), 115 (abetment of offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life if offence not committed) and 117 (abetting commission of offence by the public).

The offence of house trespass was included in the FIR because the meeting of Congress workers was allegedly held without permission at the Pawai PWD guest house.

Pateria’s remarks were deemed highly objectionable by the state Congress.