Goa, April 29 -- Gautam Khattar, the prime accused in the controversial St Francis Xavier hate‑speech case, has filed a bail application before the JMFC Court in Vasco and is set to appear for the hearing likely tomorrow.

He was detained by police in connection with the April 18 incident involving derogatory remarks against St Francis Xavier that had sparked widespread outrage across Goa and led to an FIR being registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

The case has drawn sharp political and religious reactions, with the remarks seen as targeting a key Catholic icon in Goa.

While his brother Madhav Khattar has already secured conditional bail and walked out of Colvale Jail, Gautam's legal team is now seeking similar relief.

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