Nagpur-based journalist Prashant Koratkar is facing legal challenges after a case was registered against him for allegedly making derogatory remarks about the 17th-century Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his son, Chhatrapati Sambhaji. Koratkar contends that the audio clip central to the allegations has been morphed and claims his phone was hacked.
Seeking anticipatory bail, Koratkar appeared before the Bombay High Court, which denied his request for interim relief. He is accused of threatening Kolhapur historian Indrajeet Sawant and making inflammatory statements that could incite communal discord. The case stems from an audio conversation between Koratkar and Sawant, where objectionable comments were allegedly made.
In his defense, Koratkar reiterated the audio was doctored and that he had issued a public apology while applying for pre-arrest bail. He turned to the High Court after the Kolhapur Sessions Court dismissed his anticipatory bail plea. A Bench of Justice Rajesh Patil has agreed to hear his petition on Monday.
Advocate Ashish Raje Gaikwad, representing the complainant, opposed any relief for Koratkar, revealing that in addition to the FIR filed by Sawant in Kolhapur, two more FIRs have been lodged against the journalist.
The court instructed Gaikwad to assist in the prosecution and postponed the hearing to March 24. Sawant previously shared a video on social media that captured his conversation with Koratkar prior to filing the FIR. Koratkar argued that Sawant’s act of posting the video before lodging the complaint aimed to incite communal tensions, especially given its late-night release.
Following the video’s virality, Koratkar reported significant public backlash and has since requested police protection for himself and his family as of March 4.
