On Monday, the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court granted pre-arrest bail to Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) chief Kamal Haasan over his "free India's first extremist was a Hindu" remark made during an election meeting in the Aravkurichi assembly constituency in Tamil Nadu. Nearly 76 complaints have been lodged against Kamal Haasan for his controversial 'Godse' and 'Hindu Terrorist' comment.
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The Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) founder had stoked a controversy last week for saying that independent India's first "extremist was a Hindu," referring to Nathuram Godse who killed Mahatma Gandhi. A case was registered under sections 153A and 295A of the Indian Penal Code, which deal with "outraging religious feelings" and "promoting enmity between different groups" respectively.
Haasan had contended that attempts were being made to malign his good name among the public. Kamal Haasan approached Madras High Court Madurai Bench after Aravakurichi police filed FIR under Sections 153 and 295A. He had submitted that his statement about Nathuram Godse was not a distorted one.
"In fact, he (Godse) himself in his statement during the hearing of the Gandhi assassination case and in his book "Why I Killed Gandhi" had categorically admitted that he was a Hindu and Gandhi was the reason for the partition of India," Haasan submitted.
MHC Madurai bench reserved the orders earlier but granted the bail today. Kamal Haasan can approach Aravakurichy police station within 15 days and get the conditional anticipatory bail.