New Delhi, Feb. 21 -- Kerala High Court on Friday rejected the anticipatory bail plea of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader P C George connection with an alleged hate speech case.

Earlier, the court had given protection from arrest till February 17.

George, a former MLA, has been accused of hate speech against a minority community during a TV channel discussion.

The BJP leader had moved the High Court after the Kottayam District Sessions Court rejected his anticipatory bail plea in a case registered against him by the Erattupetta police.

Police had registered a case based on a complaint lodged by Muhamed Shihab, a Muslim Youth League leader.

P C George has been booked under sections 196(1)(a) (promoting enmity between different grou...