Hate speech: BJP leader Giriraj Singh to go to jail for sending Modi-detractors to Pakistan

Bokaro: Facing arrest for his controversial statements, senior BJP leader Giriraj Singh today said he would surrender before the court tomorrow but did not say whether he would do so in Jharkhand or Bihar.

"I will surrender before court tomorrow... I have respect for law, judiciary and the Election Commission," he told PTI.

When asked, he said, "I will not reveal where I will surrender."

Three FIRs -- two at Deogarh and Bokaro in Jharkhand and one in Patna -- were lodged against him at the behest of the Election Commission, which has barred him from campaigning in the two states in the wake of his April 18 controversial remarks that those opposing BJP PM nominee Narendra Modi should go to Pakistan, and that the Centre was giving subsidy for export of beef while taxing those who reared cows.

The third FIR was lodged at the Airport police station here two days ago for repeating the same remarks publicly on April 20. Patna district administration had issued notice to Singh and sought his reply within 24 hours, which he did after expiry of the deadline.

The city police have confirmed that a police team from Jharkhand led by an officer of the rank of deputy superintendent of police is on its way here to arrest Singh in compliance with a non-bailable warrant issued by a court there.

"We will extend all cooperation to them (Jharkhand police)," city superintendent of police Jayant Kant said. Singh said he was aware that a police team from Jharkhand armed with arrest warrant against him had left for Patna.

Singh, a former minister in the Nitish Kumar government who contested on BJP ticket from Nawada on April 10, alleged he was singled out for punishment though a number of leaders from various political parties like Azam Khan (SP), Shazia Ilmi and Prashant Bhushan (AAP), Akbaruddin Owaisi (AIMIM) were "going around scot-free" despite their controversial remarks.

Singh's statements had provoked outrage from various political quarters, including his own party.

Singh is facing charges under IPC sections 153 A (promoting enmity between classes), 295 A (maliciously insulting religion or religious beliefs of any class) and 298 (uttering any word or making any sound in the hearing or making any gesture, or placing any object in the sight of any person, with intention to wound his religious feelings).

He is also facing charges under the People’s Representation Act lodged by the Bokaro police in the FIR against him on April 21 for his alleged inflammatory speech during an election meeting at a place under Harla police station in the district on April 18.