The trial against controversial Salafi preacher Mujahid Balussery has formally commenced, nearly nine years after a complaint was lodged over his inflammatory speeches that allegedly insulted Hindu beliefs and religious figures. The Ernakulam court, which began hearing the case this week, has directed Balussery to surrender his passport by 10 July 2025 and has barred him from leaving India until the proceedings conclude.
The complaint, originally filed in 2016 by Pratheesh Viswanath, former leader of the International Vishwa Hindu Parishad and founder of the Hindu Seva Kendra, accused Mujahid Balussery of denigrating Hindu customs, temples, and spiritual figures through his public speeches and online sermons.
One of the most cited statements by Balussery includes his remark that spending money in temples is worse than donating to brothels. He had said, “If you donate money to a Hindu temple or festival, you’re encouraging shirk, which is the gravest sin. You wouldn’t donate money to a brothel or a pub,” in a video that went viral.
He also criticized Mata Amritanandamayi Devi in derogatory terms, questioning her legitimacy as a spiritual figure. He had said, “Yesterday was Mata Amritanandamayi’s fifty-eighth birthday. Whose mother, I don’t know, whose mother she is. I don’t know. You can only become a mother if you become a wife.”
The Ernakulam Central Police registered a case under relevant sections based on Viswanath’s complaint and submitted YouTube links as evidence, including speeches where Balussery denounced practices he described as “shirk” (polytheism), targeting Hindu rituals and worship.
In earlier proceedings, the court, while considering anticipatory bail, had observed that religious figures should exercise caution in their public commentary, especially when referring to other faiths. The bench emphasized that promoting one’s beliefs should not come at the cost of denigrating another’s, and religious texts must be used to promote unity, not division.
During his deposition in court, Balussery defended his statements, asserting that, as an Islamic preacher, it was his responsibility to guide his followers on what is permissible and prohibited in Islam. The court eventually granted him conditional bail, which required him to surrender his passport and provide an undertaking not to make such statements again in the future.
Balussery had previously surrendered his passport in 2017 following court orders and was permitted to reclaim it temporarily for a foreign trip. However, with the trial now underway, the court has reinforced its directive that he must resubmit the passport and remain in India for the duration of the legal process.
The case has drawn renewed attention after Viswanath released a statement on social media, reiterating that the battle was not personal but aimed at securing justice for Hindus who felt vilified. “Enough is enough….!! In 2016, a radical Muslim cleric named Mujahid Balussery dared to insult crores of Hindus by saying “donating at temples is worse than spending money in brothels” and even mocked Amma Amritanandamayi Devi. I along with @HinduSevaKendra filed a complaint at Ernakulam Central Police Station demanding action. For 9 relentless years, I fought a legal battle , not just for myself, but for every Hindu who felt humiliated. Now, justice is catching up. The court has finally begun trial proceedings and has ordered Mujahid Balussery to surrender his passport by July 10 and barred him from leaving India until the trial concludes. This is just the beginning. No one has the right to mock our faith and walk free. Until every anti Hindu bigot is held accountable, this fight will not stop.,” he wrote, vowing to continue the legal fight until full accountability is ensured.
Enough is enough….!!
In 2016, a radical Muslim cleric named Mujahid Balussery dared to insult crores of Hindus by saying "donating at temples is worse than spending money in brothels" and even mocked Amma Amritanandamayi Devi.
I along with @HinduSevaKendra filed a complaint… pic.twitter.com/D26H54Hxu6
— Pratheesh Viswanath (@pratheesh_Hind) July 3, 2025
The Kerala-based preacher had previously expressed regret over some of his remarks. In 2018, he issued an apology for comments about women, including a controversial claim that “those who wear lipstick are prostitutes.” He later admitted these statements were inappropriate and had caused widespread hurt, particularly among working women.
Despite public backlash and repeated controversies, Balussery has maintained a substantial following online and within sections of Kerala’s conservative Islamic circles. The current trial marks a significant test of legal accountability for religious hate speech and may set a precedent for similar cases going forward.
(With inputs from Marunadan Malayalee)
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