Karnataka High Court stays FIR against Kuloor road protestors
Why was an FIR necessary for a peaceful protest?: High Court questions police
Kuloor: The Karnataka High Court has granted a stay on the FIR registered by Kavoor police against members of the Toll Virodhi Horata Samithi, including Muneer Katipalla, for protesting to demand road repairs in Kuloor.
The protest was held on 26 November 2024 by the Toll Virodhi Horata Samithi, demanding the repair of the Kuloor road. In response, the Kavoor police registered an FIR against Muneer Katipalla, B.K. Imtiaz, Sunil Kumar Bajal, Manjula Nayak, Srinath Kulal, Raghavendra, Yadav Shetty, and Dayanand Shetty and filed a charge sheet in court. Subsequently, a non-bailable warrant was issued against the protestors.
Senior Advocate S. Balan, representing the protestors, filed a petition in the Karnataka High Court seeking the quashing of the FIR. Justice Hemant Chandan Gowdar, hearing the case, has granted a stay on the FIR.
High Court questions police
The court questioned the police on what grounds they had invoked s. 189 and s. 190 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) without applying s. 3(5). The judge also asked, "What was the necessity of an FIR for a peaceful protest?"
Senior Advocate S. Balan argued, "Filing an FIR against those who demanded road repairs is a violation of citizens' fundamental duties. Article 51A of the Indian Constitution outlines fundamental duties, which include protecting public property and avoiding violence."
He further stated, "No loudspeakers were used during the protest, nor was public movement obstructed. The police were deployed for security, but they neither intervened nor arrested anyone during the protest. The FIR was filed only after the protestors had returned home."
Protestors accused of being "absconding"
Balan also pointed out that those named in the FIR are well-known activists in Mangaluru and that even after the FIR, they continued holding protests for public interest. Yet, the police deliberately filed an 'Absconding Charge Sheet' against them.
He further argued, "The charge sheet was filed without issuing a notice under s. 35 of BNS, which is a clear violation of fundamental rights and an abuse of law."
Allegations against Mangaluru police
Balan alleged that illegal gambling, unauthorised sand mining, and unlicensed massage parlours were operating in Mangaluru under police supervision. He argued that instead of addressing these issues, police officials were targeting activists by registering FIRs against them in retaliation for their protests.
After hearing the arguments, Justice Hemant Chandan Gowdar stayed the FIR and the proceedings in the Mangaluru court. The High Court also issued an urgent notice to the Kavoor police, providing relief to the protestors.
Advocate Rakshita Singh assisted in the case.
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MP minister's veiled remark on Col Sofia Qureshi sparks major row; he apologises, Cong seeks ouster
Bhopal/Indore, May 13 (PTI): Madhya Pradesh Minister and BJP leader Vijay Shah has sparked a major controversy with objectionable comments that appeared to be directed at Col Sofia Qureshi, whom he tried to project as a "sister of terrorists."
Under severe flak, Shah said if anyone is hurt by his statement, he is ready to apologise ten times, adding that he respects Colonel Qureshi more than his sister.
The Congress has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to sack Shah from the Madhya Pradesh cabinet.
Colonel Qureshi had conducted regular press briefings, sharing details of the 'Operation Sindoor' launched by Indian armed forces to strike terrorists, joined by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh.
"Those people (terrorists) who had wiped out the sindoor (vermilion) of our sisters (in the Pahalgam terror attack)..We avenged these 'kate-pite' people by sending their sister to destroy them," Shah said.
"They (terrorists) killed our Hindu brothers by making them remove their clothes. PM Modi ji responded by sending their (terrorists') sister in an Army plane to strike them in their houses. They (terrorists) made our sisters widows, so Modiji sent the sister of their community to strip them and teach them a lesson", the BJP leader said while addressing a gathering in Ramkunda village near Indore.
He said, "Revenge was taken for the honour of our country (India), respect, and for the (slain) husbands of our sisters by sending a sister from your (terrorists') community to Pakistan".
The tribal welfare minister clarified that his remarks should not be construed otherwise.
Shah's remarks drew wide-scale condemnation, with Congress demanding his immediate dismissal from the MP cabinet.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said Shah, who made 'derogatory' remarks in reference to Colonel Sofia Qureshi, should be dismissed immediately.
"A minister of the BJP government of Madhya Pradesh has made a very derogatory, shameful and cheap remark about our brave daughter Colonel Sofia Qureshi. The terrorists of Pahalgam wanted to divide the country, but the country was united during the entire 'Operation Sindoor' to give a befitting reply to the terrorists," Kharge posted on X.
He alleged that the BJP-RSS harbours an anti-women mentality.
"First, the wife of the naval officer martyred in Pahalgam was trolled on social media, then the daughter of Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri was harassed, and now the BJP ministers are making such indecent comments about our brave woman Sophia Qureshi," Kharge said and appealed to PM Modi to immediately sack Shah.
Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari shared the video of Shah on X and asked whether the BJP agrees with the minister's "low thinking"?
The MP Congress Committee alleged that Shah's "indecent' and hate-filled" statement is not just a personal attack, but an open attack on India's military dignity, national unity, and women's honour.
Amid the raging controversy, the BJP's Madhya Pradesh general secretary Hitanand Sharma summoned Shah to the state headquarters in Bhopal.
According to sources, Sharma reprimanded the minister, who also met the state BJP president, Vishnu Dutt Sharma.
Speaking to reporters, Shah sought to attribute the intemperate remarks to his "disturbed" state of mind in view of the brutal killing of innocent people in Pahalgam by terrorists.
He claimed many members of his family have a military background and many were martyred.
"Sister Sophia has brought glory to India by rising above caste and religion. She is more respected than our own sister. I salute her for her service to the nation.
"We cannot even think of insulting her in our dreams. Still, if my words have hurt society and religion, then I am ready to apologise ten times,'' he added.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Manoj Shukla and the party workers blackened the nameplate of Shah at his bungalow and raised slogans seeking his resignation.
'हमारी सेना की जांबाज बेटियां आतंकवादियों की बहन हैं'
— Congress (@INCIndia) May 13, 2025
- ये घटिया बात मध्य प्रदेश में BJP सरकार के मंत्री विजय शाह ने कही है।
भारत की जिन बेटियों पर सबको नाज है, उन बेटियों को लेकर ये शर्मनाक बयान दिया गया है। उन्हें आतंकवादियों की बहन बताया गया है।
ये हमारी पराक्रमी सेना का… pic.twitter.com/y591M3ky8G
