A Kerala court on Monday granted bail to right-wing political commentator T G Mohandas in a case registered over controversial remarks he allegedly made about students protesting at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar over the NEET examination issue. Thiruvananthapuram Additional Chief Judicial First Class Magistrate Court judge Mithun Gopi G S granted Mohandas bail when he was produced before the court for remand proceedings. He had been arrested on Sunday. The case relates to remarks allegedly made by Mohandas in YouTube videos about the recent student agitation at Jantar Mantar. The comments triggered widespread criticism after clips from the videos circulated on social media.
In one of the videos, Mohandas allegedly said that if he had the authority, he would impose a curfew around Jantar Mantar, issue three warnings to protesters to disperse and then order police firing. In another video, he made derogatory remarks about women and rape. Police had registered a case against Mohandas on July 29 following the controversy. He was subsequently taken into custody by the Thiruvananthapuram Cyber Police from his residence in Mattancherry on Sunday evening, before his arrest was formally recorded.
The controversy also prompted the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh to distance itself from Mohandas. The RSS said he had no association with the organisation at any level and maintained that the comments were his personal views. Mohandas has previously been associated with the BJP’s intellectual cell in Kerala. Reports described him as a former convenor of the cell. The remarks were made against the backdrop of the prolonged student agitation at Jantar Mantar over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and demands for wider reforms in the examination system.
The protests had drawn students and supporters from different parts of the country and developed into a wider campaign over examination integrity and accountability. The police action against Mohandas followed complaints over the videos and the public controversy surrounding his statements. Reports said the case includes allegations relating to disturbing public peace, creating fear and unrest and insulting the modesty of women. Mohandas was produced before the Thiruvananthapuram court on Monday following his arrest. The court subsequently allowed his bail application, while the case over the remarks will continue.