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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Probe into Zubeen Garg's death ongoing, no foul play suspected yet: Singapore police
Singapore (PTI): Investigations into the death of singer Zubeen Garg are ongoing but so far no foul play is suspected, Singapore police have said.
Garg died under mysterious circumstances while swimming in the sea in Singapore on September 19.
The case is currently still being investigated by the Singapore Police Force (SPF), in accordance with the Singapore Coroners Act 2010, the police said on Thursday.
“Based on our investigations so far, the SPF does not suspect foul play in the death of Garg,” said the statement.
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Upon completion of the investigations, the findings will be submitted to the State Coroner in Singapore, who will hold a Coroner’s Inquiry (CI), currently scheduled for January and February 2026.
A CI is a fact-finding process led by the Coroner to establish the cause and circumstances of death. Its findings will be made public upon conclusion, said the SPF.
Singapore police are committed to conducting a thorough and professional investigation into the case, it said.
“We seek the patience and understanding of the parties involved. Meanwhile, we urge the public not to speculate and spread unverified information,” said SPF.
A Special Investigation Team probing Garg's death charged four accused, including the singer’s secretary Siddhartha Sharma and festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, with murder in a chargesheet filed in a court in India last week.
Garg was due to perform at the 4th Northeast India Festival at Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre on September 20.
