The Madras High Court on Monday granted anticipatory bail to actor-politician Kamal Haasan in a case filed against him over his controversial Hindu extremist remark.
Justice R Pugalendhi of the Madurai Bench directed the Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) founder to appear before the judicial magistrate court in Aravakurichi and execute a bail bond for Rs 10,000 with two sureties each for a like sum.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Madurai bench of Madras High Court grants anticipatory bail to Kamal Haasan in a case filed against him by Hindu Munnani party for his comments on Nathuram Godse.
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1130355819260727297?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 20, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
Addressing an election rally in Aravakurichi last week, Haasan had said, "Free India's first terrorist was a Hindu, his name is Nathuram Godse. There it (terrorism, apparently) starts."&nbsp;Godse killed Mahatma Gandhi.
An FIR was filed against Haasan on May 14, following which he moved court seeking anticipatory bail, saying his speech was about Godse only and not about Hindus as a whole.
Allowing his plea, the judge said the court was inclined to grant bail as the election process was still pending and he was the leader of a registered political party.
Haasan's remarks drew criticism from the BJP, ruling AIADMK and Hindu outfits.
Makkal Needhi Maiam founder Kamal&nbsp;Haasan, who has found himself in a row over his "India's first&nbsp;extremist was a Hindu" remarks, Sunday called Mahatma Gandhi a&nbsp;'superstar'.
Pointing out that he has been repeatedly reading about&nbsp;Gandhi and his life, Haasan recalled an anecdote where the&nbsp;latter once lost his slipper while travelling in a train.&nbsp;"...he (Gandhi) is a superstar. While waving at the&nbsp;crowds standing in a train, he once lost his slipper. And he threw away the other one and reasoned that a pair of footwear&nbsp;will be useful for someone," he said at an event of director R&nbsp;Pathiban's movie titled 'Ottha Seruppu,' meaning single chappal.
Talking more on Gandhi's footwear, Haasan said following&nbsp;research on the Indian freedom movement's doyen for his film&nbsp;"Hey Ram", he came to know that his spectacles and a slipper "went missing during the melee," apparently referring to his&nbsp;assassination.
"So I created a scene where Saketram (the lead played by himself) takes it (slipper) and keeps it till his death," he said.
Caught in a row for saying that Nathuram Godse, who shot&nbsp;dead Gandhi, was a Hindu and that he was free,&nbsp;Haasan said he cannot "accept a villain as a hero."&nbsp;On the incident where footwear was hurled during his&nbsp;campaigning at Thirupparankundram near Madurai recently, he&nbsp;said: "it is an insult for the one who threw the chappal."&nbsp;Indicating that Gandhi was his "hero", Haasan said, "I&nbsp;cannot change my hero."
Top News Stories of the Day
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.mid-day.com/articles/mumbai-crime-gateman-kin-thrash-guard-over-parking-of-bike-at-station/20976187" target="_blank">Mumbai crime: Gateman, kin thrash guard over parking of bike at station</a></li>
<li><a title="Mumbai crime: 65-yr-old held for visa fraud" href="https://www.mid-day.com/articles/mumbai-crime-65-yr-old-held-for-visa-fraud/20976181">Mumbai crime: 65-yr-old held for visa fraud</a></li>
<li><a title="Mumbai crime: Sub-inspector put behind bars for raping, assaulting domestic help" href="https://www.mid-day.com/articles/mumbai-crime-sub-inspector-put-behind-bars-for-raping-assaulting-domestic-help/20976190">Mumbai crime: Sub-inspector put behind bars for raping, assaulting domestic help</a></li>
<li><a title="Vacation turns tragic as 3 from Mumbai drown" href="https://www.mid-day.com/articles/vacation-turns-tragic-as-3-from-mumbai-drown/20976183">Vacation turns tragic as 3 from Mumbai drown</a></li>
<li><a title="BMC, traffic cops to crack down on roadside parking in flooding spots" href="https://www.mid-day.com/articles/bmc-traffic-cops-to-crack-down-on-roadside-parking-in-flooding-spots/20976179">BMC, traffic cops to crack down on roadside parking in flooding spots</a></li>
<li><a title="Mumbai crime: Cop arrests escaping drug addict in a 100-metre dash" href="https://www.mid-day.com/articles/mumbai-crime-cop-arrests-escaping-drug-addict-in-a-100-metre-dash/20976186">Mumbai crime: Cop arrests escaping drug addict in a 100-metre dash</a></li>
<li><a title="Teachers fear delay in new textbooks for std XI" href="https://www.mid-day.com/articles/teachers-fear-delay-in-new-textbooks-for-std-xi/20976180">Teachers fear delay in new textbooks for std XI</a></li>
<li><a title="Man from Mumbra arrested with 14 stolen phones, fake currency notes" href="https://www.mid-day.com/articles/man-from-mumbra-arrested-with-14-stolen-phones-fake-currency-notes/20976188">Man from Mumbra arrested with 14 stolen phones, fake currency notes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.mid-day.com/photos/narendra-modi-offers-prayers-at-kedarnath-and-badrinath-temple/50203">Narendra Modi offers prayers at Kedarnath and Badrinath temple</a></li>
</ul>
Catch up on all the latest <a title="Mumbai News" href="https://www.mid-day.com/news/mumbai">Mumbai news, crime news,</a> current affairs, and also a <a title="Mumbai Guide" href="https://www.mid-day.com/news/mumbai" target="_blank">complete guide on Mumbai</a> from food to things to do and events across the city here. Also download the new mid-day <a title="mid-day android app" href="https://goo.gl/8Xlcvr" target="_blank">Android</a> and <a title="mid-day iOS app" href="https://goo.gl/KQziH4" target="_blank">iOS</a> apps to get latest updates
Edited by mid-day online desk with inputs from Agencies

An FIR was filed against Haasan on May 14 following which he moved court seeking anticipatory bail, saying his speech was about Godse only and not about Hindus as a whole

Madras HC grants pre-arrest bail to Kamal Haasan over Godse remark

Trending Stories

Latest Photos

Latest Videos

Latest Web Stories

Mid-Day Fast

Home / News / India News / Article / Madras HC grants pre-arrest bail to Kamal Haasan over Godse remark

Madras HC grants pre-arrest bail to Kamal Haasan over Godse remark

Trending Stories

Latest Photos

Latest Videos

Latest Web Stories

Mid-Day Fast