Karnataka High Court Dismisses Cases Against Bommai Over Rally Remarks

Bengaluru, Jun 27 Karnataka High Court has dismissed two criminal cases against BJP leader and former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. These cases were filed alleging that Bommai made objectionable remarks during a protest rally, where he criticized the Waqf Board and the state government over purported encroachments on properties belonging to farmers and temples. On Friday, Justice S R Krishna Kumar delivered the ruling that favored Bommai's plea to annul the proceedings brought by Shiggaon police under Section 196(1)(a) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). This section relates to instigating enmity between different groups based on grounds like religion or race. Representing Bommai, senior advocate Prabhuling K Navadgi argued that the complaints lacked the essential ingredients necessary to constitute an offense under the specified section. In contrast, Additional Special Public Prosecutor B N Jagadeesha contended that video evidence suggested Bommai had indeed committed the offense. The judge, after scrutinizing the complaints and referring to relevant precedents from Supreme Court and High Court, found the allegations to be vague and insubstantial. The court noted that besides Bommai's remark that "wherever a stone is thrown, Waqf property is found," there were no specific elements in the complaint to justify charges under the said provision. Concluding, the court determined that pursuing the case would amount to an abuse of legal process and subsequently quashed the proceedings against Bommai. The judge emphasized that this relief applies solely to Bommai and does not extend to other individuals named in the FIR.

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