Karnataka HC quashes criminal cases against Basavaraj Bommai over protest remarks
Bengaluru, Jun 27 (PTI): Karnataka High Court on Friday set aside two criminal cases filed against BJP leader and former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, which alleged he made objectionable remarks during a protest rally criticising the Waqf Board and the state government over alleged encroachment on farmers' and temples' properties.
Justice S R Krishna Kumar, delivering the order, allowed Bommai's plea to quash the proceedings that had been initiated by Shiggaon police under Section 196(1)(a) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertains to promoting enmity between different groups on grounds such as religion or race.
Senior advocate Prabhuling K Navadgi, representing Bommai, contended that the complaints lacked the essential elements required to constitute an offence under Section 196(1)(a). In response, Additional Special Public Prosecutor B N Jagadeesha argued that the video evidence of the protest prima facie suggested Bommai had committed the offence.
However, after reviewing the complaint and referring to relevant Supreme Court and High Court precedents, the judge observed that the allegations were too vague and lacked substance. It noted that aside from Bommai's statement -- "wherever a stone is thrown, Waqf property is found" -- the complaint did not contain specific elements that could sustain charges under the said provision.
Declaring that pursuing the case would amount to an abuse of legal process, the court quashed the proceedings against Bommai. The judge clarified that the relief is limited to Bommai and does not extend to other accused individuals named in the FIR.
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Tax exemption for Kannada movie ‘Landlord’: CM Siddaramaiah directs officials
Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said that officials concerned have been instructed to let the Kannada movie ‘Landlord’, which reflects social inequality and caste-based oppression, be exempted from payment of tax.
Referring to the Duniya Vijay-starrer, which was released on January 23, the CM posted on his Facebook account that films were an effective medium to reform society and shape public opinion by passing valuable messages to the viewers. “It is our moral responsibility as a government to stand with and support those who make socially concerned films,” he stressed.
Siddaramaiah added, “I believe that our decision will inspire people to make more films like ‘Landlord’ that shed light on the social system in the coming days.”
