Karnataka HC stays proceedings against J P Nadda in 'undue influence in election' case
Bengaluru (PTI): The High Court of Karnataka has stayed the criminal proceedings against BJP national president J P Nadda relating to certain remarks made at an election rally in April this year.
The case was filed by the Shiggaon police in Haveri district.
Justice M Nagaprasanna issued the stay order on a petition challenging the case filed for "punishment for undue influence or personation at an election" under Section 171F of the Indian Penal Code and Section 123(2) of the Representation of the People Act.
The case, which was adjourned for hearing after the grant of stay, was registered against Nadda after he made a speech on April 19, 2023 at the Shiggaon Taluk playground while addressing an election rally.
It was alleged he threatened the voters that if they did not support the BJP, they would be deprived of the largesses from the Central government.
Election Officer Lakshman Nandi had lodged a complaint in this regard with the jurisdictional police alleging undue influence was being made on the voters.
The case is now pending before the Principal Civil and CJM Court, Haveri.
The petition in the HC filed by advocate Vinod Kumar M stated that the Magistrate had granted permission for registration of the case without jurisdiction.
The informant had to present the complaint to the Magistrate but it was sent by the investigating officer through a police constable. Since Nadda was a Member of Parliament, the permission for the registration of the case can be granted only by a designated special court.
"Therefore, the registration of FIR which is violative of the mandatory proceedings enumerated in the code of criminal procedure and the catena of judgements passed by the Hon'ble Apex Court as well as this Hon'ble Court. Therefore, the continuation of investigation is an abuse of process of law," the petition said.
Justice Nagaprasanna had quashed a FIR filed against Nadda in a similar case in Harapanahalli police station on August 7 calling it "reckless registration of crime".
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
===================
The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
