MARGAO: The District and Sessions Court Margao on Tuesday granted conditional anticipatory bail to Fr Bolmax Pereira, who was booked over his remarks on Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj during a sermon.
The court ordered to release him on furnishing bail bond of Rs 20,000 as surety and appear at the Vasco Police Station as and when required.
On Monday, the court had adjourned the hearing in an anticipatory bail application moved by Fr Bolmax Pereira as Vasco Police Station officer sought time to file their reply. The Vasco police filed their reply on Tuesday and the arguments from defence and public prosecutor were heard by the court.
The court passed the order observing that anticipatory bail application has been granted with conditions. Earlier, the court had issued notices to Vasco Police public prosecutor and defence advocate and had posted the matter for hearing on the anticipatory bail application on Monday, August 7. However, due to non-filing of reply by Vasco police, the matter was posted for hearing on August 8.The court had also refused to grant Fr Pereira interim relief in the matter on Monday.
Vasco police have booked Fr Pereira under Section 295 (injuring or defiling place of worship, with intent to insult the religion of any class) and 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) of IPC.
Fr Bolmax Pereira was on Friday booked over his remark on Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj that he made during a sermon.
According to information, a case has been lodged at Vasco Police Station, though complaints were received in other police stations as well, including Cuncolim and Canacona.
Fr Pereira had tendered an apology and had said that his statement on the 17th century warrior king was taken “out of context and misinterpreted”.
A video of the priest, attached to a church at Chicalim, went viral in which he said that “Chhatrapati Shivaji cannot be considered as a God”.
Several right-wing organisations in the State, including Bajrang Dal, have condemned his remark.
Huge crowd had assembled at Vasco Police Station demanding the arrest of Fr Bolmax. PSI Swapnil Naik is investigating the case.
