The Karnataka government has given the sanction to prosecute a senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader against whom cases were registered almost a year ago for a hate speech.

Based on a complaint from the Election Commission, Mangalore police had in April last year booked Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat and sought the state government’s permission to prosecute him. The speech had been delivered before the Assembly elections last year.

Bhat, known for his communal outbursts, had been booked under IPC Section 153A and Section 125 of the Representation of People’s Act, which deal with promoting enmity between people on the grounds of religion and race. The state government’s approval is needed to begin prosecution under these sections, which entail a maximum punishment of three years in jail.

Upon receipt of the government sanction a few days ago, the police promptly filed a chargesheet in the case, which would now be taken up by a district court in Dakshina Kannada, of which Mangalore is the headquarters.

An influential leader of the RSS, Bhat had been addressing protesters over alleged theft of cows from a shelter run by the Sri Ramachandrapura Mutt. The shelter caretaker had staged a fast-unto-death seeking action.

Bhat had accused the then Congress state government of “destroying” Hindu culture.

Bhat had iterated his opposition to Muslim ministers being invited to events at Hindu temples. He had spoken against allowing minister U.T. Khader from visiting a temple and even suggested a cleansing ritual.

“Has the priest lost his mind that he welcomed him with boolya (a ceremonial reception with betel leaves on a platter)?” Bhat was heard in a video clip.

At the cow shelter protest, he had ridiculed the model code of conduct that was in force for the Assembly elections.

“Simply ignore the model code of conduct. That committee has no morals,” he had said.

Senior lawyer G.R. Mohan, who is not connected with the case, said government sanction was a pre-condition for filing a chargesheet in such cases.

“Charges like IPC Sections 153 and 124A (sedition) require government sanction for the filing of a chargesheet. This pre-condition is to check misuse of the law,” Mohan said.

Police officers are waiting for the government’s sanction to prosecute Bhat in connection with another hate speech.