Karnataka High Court again rejects plea of Naresh Shenoy to participate in Venkataramana temple
Shenoy is key accused in RTI activist Vinayaka Baliga's murder case
Mangaluru: The Karnataka High Court rejected the application filed by Naresh Shenoy, one of the accused in the Vinayaka Baliga murder case, to participate in the activities and transactions of Sri Venkataramana temple on Car Street.
Key accused in the RTI activist Vinayaka Baliga murder case, business tycoon Naresh Shenoy was barred from participating activities and transactions of Sri Venkataramana temple and Kashi Mutt, by Karnataka High Court while granting conditional bail to Shenoy on September 15, 2016.
A similar plea was also rejected by the same court in October 2016, but had cleared that Shenoy will be allowed to pray in the temple as a devotee, but cannot involve himself in the administrative activities and transactions of the temple, until the case proceedings is completed.
“It is clear that there is no prohibition on him by the order under question from offering prayer as a devotee in the temple and mutt. He is only conditioned from keeping himself away from the activities and affairs of the committees attached to the temple” Justice Rathnakala had observed while rejecting his petition in October 2016.
“Unless the verdict is out in the case Shenoy should keep himself away from all activities and transactions of the temple. He should also restraint himself from participating in the transactions and activities of all committees attached to the temple” the HC maintained on Saturday.
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Mamata visits Bhabanipur EVM strong room, warns against counting irregularities
Kolkata (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee early Friday warned against any attempt to tamper with the counting process, hours after she visited an EVM strong room in Bhabanipur, alleging possible malpractice.
Banerjee, who emerged around 12:07 am after spending nearly four hours at the counting centre for her Bhabanipur constituency housed in Sakhawat Memorial School in south Kolkata, said only one person would be allowed inside the designated counting area.
"Either the candidate or one agent can stay upstairs. I have also suggested installation of a CCTV camera for the media," she told reporters.
Stressing the need for transparency, she said, "It is essential to maintain transparency. People’s votes must be protected. I rushed here after receiving complaints. The central forces initially did not allow me to enter."
Sounding a stern note ahead of the May 4 counting, she added, "If there is any plan to tamper with the counting process, it will not be tolerated."
On Thursday evening, Banerjee had reached the Bhabanipur Assembly segment counting centre, which houses the strong room for EVMs used in the April 29 polling, citing suspicion of tampering with the machines.
She entered the premises along with her election agent and remained inside for hours, even as Kolkata Mayor and TMC candidate from the Kolkata Port segment Firhad Hakim reached the spot but could not meet her.
"I reached here upon learning that the chief minister has arrived. But I couldn’t meet her since she was already inside the premises, exercising her right as a candidate to visit strong rooms. I wasn’t allowed there. I will not be able to confirm what exactly is transpiring inside," Hakim said.
The development coincided with protests by TMC candidates Kunal Ghosh and Shashi Panja outside the Khudiram Anushilan Kendra in north Kolkata, where they staged a sit-in alleging irregularities and possible tampering of EVMs stored in strong rooms, leading to face-offs between TMC and BJP supporters.
Earlier in a video message, Banerjee had urged party leaders, workers and polling agents to maintain a 24-hour vigil on EVM strong rooms, alleging that the BJP could attempt to tamper with the machines before counting begins.
Her remarks come amid heightened political tension in the state following a fiercely contested Assembly election, with parties closely monitoring arrangements and raising concerns over transparency.
