Professor of Journalism in the University of Mysore, B.P. Mahesh Chandra Guru, was on Friday granted bail and released from jail in connection with the case booked against him for allegedly supporting a call to burn the Bhagavad Gita.
The fourth Additional First Civil Judge, Ramya H.R., granted bail to Prof. Guru on a personal bond of Rs. 25,000, and an equal sum as surety.
Senior counsel Appaji Gowda, who appeared on behalf of Prof. Guru, told The Hindu that the other conditions imposed by the court are that his client should cooperate with the police in its investigation by visiting the police station, if necessary, and he should not threaten the witnesses.
Prof. Guru has been in jail since June 17 when the court remanded him in judicial custody in connection with a case booked against him for making derogatory remarks against Lord Rama at a function in Mysuru in January 2015. The professor, however, had managed to secure bail in this connection.
When the court extended his judicial remand in the case relating to the Bhagavad Gita on Thursday, Prof. Guru moved the bail petition. The court, after hearing the arguments, had posted orders on the bail petition for Friday. Prof. Guru is the third accused in the case booked in February 2015. Both the cases have been booked under Section 295 A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which deals with hate speech.
