Communal hate speech case: Interim relief for BJP MLA Harish Poonja
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has granted interim relief to BJP MLA Harish Poonja in connection with a communal hate speech case registered at Uppinangady Police Station.
Poonja, the MLA from Beltangady, had filed a petition seeking to quash the FIR filed against him. During the hearing, his counsel argued that the FIR sections invoked did not apply to the alleged incident. They contended that Poonja had not made any remarks that incited hatred between communities.
The government counsel informed the court that a charge sheet would be submitted and sought dismissal of the petition.
Advocate S. Balan, appearing for the complainant Ibrahim, opposed the plea stating that the petition was not amended and hence should not be accepted. He said Poonja had made derogatory remarks against the Muslim community by calling them "descendants of butchers," which was both unnecessary and offensive. Balan also pointed out that there was video evidence of the statement.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the High Court bench granted an interim stay on the FIR proceedings.
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Illegally stored gas cylinders seized
Thane (PTI): Authorities have seized illegally stored 1,839 gas cylinders and seven vehicles worth over Rs 67 lakh in the Dombivli MIDC area of Thane district, officials said on Saturday.
A special vigilance team of the Mumbai Rationing Department detected an illegal storage of domestic and commercial LPG cylinders in Phase-2 of Dombivli (East).
Cylinders belonging to multiple gas agencies were found stockpiled in closed vehicles, unauthorised warehouses, and open sheds without mandatory permissions from the Explosives Department, Fire Department, or oil companies, according to an official release.
