Karnataka HC quashes FIR against man over 'Vote for Modi' wedding invite
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has quashed an FIR and related criminal proceedings against Shivaprasad, a resident of Dakshina Kannada district, for including a message on his wedding invitation urging guests to vote for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 2024 parliamentary elections.
Justice M Nagaprasanna, delivering the order on Tuesday, also quashed proceedings against Balakrishna A, the owner of the printing agency that produced the invitations. A detailed judgment is awaited.
The FIR, filed under s. 188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and s. 127A of the Representation of the People Act (RP Act), was based on a complaint by election officer Sandesh KN. The officer alleged that Shivaprasad’s invitation card, which read, "Voting for Modi is the gift for my wedding," violated the election code of conduct.
However, Shivaprasad, represented by advocate Vinod Kumar, argued that the invitations were printed on March 1, prior to the enforcement of the election code, which commenced on March 16 following the announcement of the Lok Sabha election schedule. The complaint, filed on April 19, was therefore claimed to be invalid.
Justice Nagaprasanna, during an earlier hearing on November 11, granted an interim stay on the FIR, noting that the alleged offence under the RP Act could not apply as the invitations were printed before the code of conduct took effect. The Court further observed procedural lapses in the Magistrate's handling of the case, deeming the FIR "bad in law."
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Mangalore fighters shine at World Kickboxing Championships
Mangalore: Four athletes from Groundborn Fight Club and Fitness Gym, Mangalore, have made the city proud by winning gold medals at the World Kickboxing Organization Championships held in Goa.
The winners—Karan B.V., Roshan D’Cunha, Sarthak, and Lenin Mendonça—excelled in their respective categories, showcasing their skill and determination.
They were trained by Shishir, the gym's head coach, whose guidance played a key role in their success.
