K'taka HC dismisses former Union Minister Anantkumar Hegde’s plea to quash case of assaulting doctor
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has dismissed a petition filed by former Union Minister and BJP leader Anantkumar Hegde seeking the quashing of a criminal case registered against him for allegedly assaulting a doctor in Uttara Kannada district. With the dismissal of his plea, the interim stay on trial proceedings has also been lifted, paving the way for the case to move forward.
The matter came up before Justice S. Sunil Dutt Yadav on Thursday. The petition had challenged an FIR registered suo motu by the New Market Police Station in Sirsi. When the case was called for hearing, no one appeared on behalf of Hegde. Justice Yadav reportedly remarked, “If no one appears, I will dismiss the petition.”
Additional Government Pleader B.N. Jagadeesh informed the court that although the government had been directed to be furnished with a copy of the petition, the same had not been provided. Consequently, the court dismissed the petition.
The interim order staying the investigation was originally granted on September 20, 2017, and was extended several times thereafter. The last extension was granted on August 29, 2024, when Justice M. Nagaprasanna’s bench gave the petitioner a “final opportunity.” Despite repeated adjournments, neither Hegde nor his counsel appeared in subsequent hearings, including on March 6, April 7, and July 30, 2025. The court noted a consistent lack of diligence and, therefore, dismissed the petition.
The case dates back to January 2, 2017, when Hegde’s mother, Lalitha Hegde, was taken to TSS Hospital in Sirsi by his brother Eshwar Esale. Dr. Madhukeshwar Hegde, the attending physician, diagnosed a fracture in her left thigh joint and recommended surgery. Eshwar reportedly left to consult family doctors but did not return for over half an hour.
Later that night, when Anantkumar and Eshwar returned, they allegedly called Dr. Madhukeshwar back to the hospital and assaulted him. Hospital staff members Balachandra Bhat and Rahul Mashalekar were also allegedly manhandled by Eshwar. Although the staff did not initially file a complaint, the incident was reported in the media.
Following the review of CCTV footage, police officer Raghu Kanade lodged a complaint on January 5, 2017, leading to the registration of an FIR against Anantkumar Hegde and his brother under relevant sections of the IPC (506, 341, 34, 323) and the Karnataka Prohibition of Violence Against Medicare Service Personnel and Damage to Property in Medicare Service Institutions Act (Section 4).
Hegde subsequently approached the High Court seeking to quash the proceedings, which has now been dismissed after years of delay and repeated non-appearance by the petitioner’s side.
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Karnataka govt directs municipal corps to regulate, prohibit pigeon feeding
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government has issued directions to municipal corporations across the state to regulate and prohibit feeding pigeons in public places, citing serious public health concerns.
Deputy Secretary to Government V Lakshmikanth has written to the Urban Development Department requesting it to issue directions to the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and all municipal corporations to take immediate steps to implement the measures.
In an official note dated December 16 issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department and released to the media on Wednesday, the department said uncontrolled feeding of pigeons in public places has resulted in large congregations of birds, excessive droppings and serious health concerns, particularly respiratory illnesses linked to prolonged exposure to pigeon droppings and feathers such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis and other lung diseases.
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"The commissioner, the Greater Bengaluru Authority and the Commissioners and chief officers of other municipal corporations shall take necessary action to mitigate the causes of dangerous disease spread by pigeon and enforce specified guidelines in their respective jurisdiction," the note said.
According to the department, these include a prohibition on feeding pigeons or causing pigeons to be fed in areas where it may cause nuisance or pose a health hazard to the public. Pigeon feeding shall be permitted only in designated areas in a controlled manner, subject to certain conditions.
"The designated areas may be selected in consultation with stakeholders. The responsibility for upkeep of the designated areas and compliance to the directions shall be taken up by some charitable organisation or an NGO. The feeding in designated areas shall be permitted only for some limited hours in the day," it said.
The note further stated that authorised officers of local authorities shall issue on-the-spot warnings and may impose fines for violation of the order, or lodge complaints to prosecute offenders under Sections 271 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 272 (Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
It also directed local authorities to conduct public awareness campaigns, including the display of signboards, banners and digital messages, explaining the health hazards associated with pigeon droppings and feathers, the content of the regulatory directions and penalties for violations, and alternative humane methods of bird conservation that do not endanger public health.
