Actor-politician Upendra approaches Karnataka HC again against multiple FIRs
Bengaluru, Aug 16: Kannada actor-director Upendra has approached the High Court of Karnataka with a second writ petition within days, challenging the registering of multiple FIRs against him on the same issue.
The actor-turned-politician had earlier approached the Court on Monday seeking to quash the FIR lodged against him alleging offences under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, following which the court had stayed the FIR lodged in Chennammanakere Achukattu police station.
A second FIR was registered at Halasuru Gate Police station on August 13, 2023, following a complaint by one Bharat Harishkumar, president of an outfit called the Karnataka Ranadheera Pade.
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Upendra is facing criticism for saying "Oorendare Holageri Irutte (there will be a Dalit hamlet in every village)", while interacting with fans and followers on Facebook on August 12 to celebrate the 6th anniversary of a political party founded by him called 'Uttama Prajaakeeya Party'.
Upendra has sought a direction to the DG & IG of Police to issue appropriate directions to all police stations across the State not to register any FIRs or take any action pursuant to any FIR that has been registered in any police station across the state in respect of what he said on August 12.
"The FIRs which are being registered in various police stations all across the state in respect of the same incident is totally an abuse of process of court. The Hon'ble Supreme Court has repeatedly held that there cannot be a second FIR in respect of the same incident," the petition states.
The petition is yet to come up for hearing before the bench.
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Thumbay Group begins work on Sharjah’s first private integrated psychiatric, rehabilitation hospital
Sharjah: Thumbay Group has laid the foundation stone for the Thumbay Psychiatric and Rehabilitation Hospital at Sharjah Healthcare City, a 120-bed facility that the company says will be the region’s first private, fully integrated hospital dedicated to psychiatric care, neuro-rehabilitation and addiction recovery.
The groundbreaking ceremony was led by Dr. Abdelaziz Saeed Al Mheiri, who is also a member of the Sharjah Executive Council, in the presence of Dr. Thumbay Moideen.
Spread across 110,000 square feet, the hospital is being developed to address growing demand for specialised mental health and rehabilitation services in the UAE and the wider Gulf region.
The facility will include inpatient and outpatient services in psychiatry, neuro-rehabilitation, addiction treatment, child and adolescent mental health, and care for mood and anxiety disorders. It will also feature VIP inpatient villas designed to provide privacy and support long-term recovery.
A mosque, named the Thumbay Masjid, will be constructed within the campus and will be open to the public.
The hospital is being designed to meet standards for Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), an internationally recognised accreditation system for rehabilitation facilities.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Abdelaziz Saeed Al Mheiri said the project reflects Sharjah’s commitment to strengthening healthcare infrastructure in all aspects of wellbeing.
“Mental health and rehabilitation have long needed dedicated infrastructure, and we are proud to support a private partner whose vision matches the ambition of this Emirate,” he said.
Dr. Thumbay Moideen said the project was a response to a growing need for specialised mental healthcare services in the region.
“We have spent over three decades building healthcare in this region, and the one conversation that has grown louder every year is mental health. Families have been carrying this quietly for too long. This hospital is our answer. It is purpose-built, not retrofitted, and it has been designed around dignity, recovery, and outcomes that families can trust,” he said.
Construction is scheduled to begin in June 2026, and the hospital is expected to become operational by mid-2027.
Once completed, the facility will become part of Thumbay Group’s network of healthcare, education and diagnostic institutions across the UAE.
