Karnataka HC allows media to report on orders in Lathika Pai-Microsoft dispute
Bengaluru, Jul 19 (PTI): The Karnataka High Court has clarified that trial court orders in the legal battle between former Microsoft India executive Lathika Pai and the tech giant can be published by third parties, dismissing concerns over a possible blanket publication ban.
Justice M Nagaprasanna, in an order dated July 14, observed that while the trial court's language might initially seem to bar publication, a closer examination reveals that the restriction is applicable only to Pai herself.
"The phrase 'nor publish the order of the Court' must be interpreted in the context of the plaintiff. It indicates that the plaintiff is restrained from publishing the order, not that the order is barred from being published altogether," the High Court explained.
Pai had approached the trial court in Bengaluru alleging that she was compelled to resign from Microsoft following an extended, unresolved internal investigation related to a project she oversaw. She claimed the four-year probe--left inconclusive--damaged her professional reputation.
Microsoft has categorically denied the allegations.
Initially, Pai filed her civil suit in the Delhi High Court, but later withdrew it after Microsoft contested the court's territorial jurisdiction. She then refiled the matter in a Bengaluru court.
On June 9, Microsoft submitted to the trial court that it would preserve all relevant documents. The court took note of this assurance and directed Pai not to publicise Microsoft's undertaking or the court's order until further notice.
In response, Pai filed a writ petition before the High Court, challenging the restrictions placed on her.
Senior advocate Prabhuling K Navadgi and advocate IS Devaiah represented Pai, while senior advocate Dhyan Chinnappa and advocate Mohammed Shameer appeared for Microsoft in the High Court proceedings.
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Two arrested in K'taka for assaulting minors, uploading CSAM content
Bengaluru (PTI): Two men were arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting two minor girls, recording the acts on mobile phones and uploading the videos online as child sexual abuse material, police said on Thursday.
The accused have been identified as Kiran Kumar (29), hailing from Chitradurga district, and Aditya M K (20), hailing from Shivamogga district, they said.
A probe was initiated after information was received from the NCRP portal regarding a suspected instance of creation of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) for online dissemination, police said.
Accordingly, a case was registered at Kaggalipura Police Station under relevant sections of the IT Act on May 10, they added.
Investigation revealed that two minor girl victims were exploited and videos were created and uploaded to the internet. The child victims have subsequently recorded their statements as per procedure and further necessary legal steps have been taken, Pronab Mohanty Director General of Police, Cyber Command, said in a statement.
Based on the statements of the victims, the accused persons, who allegedly assaulted the minors, recorded the acts on mobile phones and uploaded the videos online, were arrested, he said.
Following the probe, sections 65(2) (rape) and 70 (gangrape) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with relevant sections of the POCSO Act, have been added to the FIR, police said.
Officials collected relevant information and on May 12, arrested the accused persons and seized three mobile phones belonging to them, in which the videos had allegedly been recorded, he said.
The accused were later produced before the court and taken into police custody for further investigation, he added.
According to him, in CSAM cases, police usually apprehend offenders who have downloaded such content or have kept them in their possession after obtaining them from elsewhere, usually the internet.
"The present case is one of the very few instances where content creators and uploaders have been apprehended," Mohanty added.
