MP HC’s unique bail condition: Salute tricolour 21 times, chant ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has imposed a unique condition while granting bail to a man accused of shouting a pro-Pakistan slogan — he must salute the national flag at a Bhopal police station 21 times and chant “Bharat Mata ki Jai” twice a month till the end of the trial.

Justice DK Paliwal, in the order delivered on Tuesday (October 15), said the conditions may enthuse in Faizal alias Faizan a sense of responsibility and pride for the country in which he was born and living.

“He is openly shouting slogans against the country in which he was born and brought up,” the HC stated.

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Bail conditions

The court directed the accused to salute the national flag and chant “Bharat Mata ki Jai” on every first and fourth Tuesday of the month.

Faizal was arrested after an FIR was registered against him at Bhopal’s Misrod police station in May under Section 153B (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration) of the lapsed Indian Penal Code (IPC).

“It is directed that applicant Faizal alias Faizan be released on bail on his furnishing a personal bond of Rs 50,000 with one solvent surety in the like amount to the satisfaction of the trial court, for his regular appearance before the trial court during the trial,” the HC order said.

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“It is further directed that he shall continuously mark his presence before police station Misrod, Bhopal every 1st and 4th Tuesday of the month till the conclusion of the trial and shall salute the National Flag unfurled on the building of the police station 21 times by raising ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’,” the high court stated.

Charges against accused

As per the prosecution, the accused had shouted a pro-Pakistan slogan, which amounted to promoting enmity between different groups and his act was prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony and national integration.

The state government’s counsel had opposed the bail, saying the applicant was a habitual offender and 14 criminal cases were registered against him.

(With agency inputs)