Daijiworld Media Network – Karkala (SP)

Karkala, Feb 4: A court of the junior magistrate (first class) in Bangalore dismissed a case filed against Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) working president, Praveen Shetty from Hebri, and 15 other KRV leaders for allegedly blackening the face of Vijay More, former mayor of Belgaum city, during his visit to Bangalore in the past. The court, while dismissing the case on Friday February 3, said that the case suffers from lack of supporting evidence.

When Vijay More was approaching Legislators’ Home in Bangalore for urging the then Chief Minister to cede Belgaum to Maharashtra on November 11, 2005, a group of KRV activists led by Praveen Kumar Shetty had stopped him and painted his face black. The incident had catapulted Shetty to instant fame, and had drawn angry reaction from Maharashtra Ekikarana Samiti and Shiv Sena.

Praveen Kumar Shetty, who was at his native place when the news came, hailed the judgment as the victory for the sense of self-respect of Kannadigas. He said that the court, with this verdict, had given a clear message that those who meddle with the feelings of Kannadigas will face harsh punishment.