Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Udupi, Feb 28: A criminal case has been registered against 37 named individuals — including sitting MLAs, a member of Parliament and other political leaders — for allegedly violating prohibitory orders issued by the deputy commissioner during a foundation stone-laying event for the Udupi Kambala at 80 Badagabettu village.
The case was booked following a complaint lodged by Gururaj, Tahsildar of Udupi. According to police sources, Crime No. 30/2026 has been registered under Sections 189(2), 191(2), 329(3) and 190 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Sections 37 and 109 of the Karnataka Police Act.
Police stated that the accused allegedly defied the Deputy Commissioner’s order and committed criminal trespass by unlawfully entering the premises connected to the event at 80 Badagabettu village.
Those named in the FIR include Gurme Suresh Shetty, MLA of Kaup Assembly constituency; Yashpal Suvarna, MLA of Udupi; Sunil Kumar, MLA of Karkala; Kiran Kumar Kodgi, MLA of Kundapur; and Gururaj Gantihole, MLA of Byndoor.
Also named are Harish Poonja, MLA of Beltangady; Rajesh Nayak, MLA of Bantwal; MLC Dhananjay Sarji; Srinivas Poojary, Member of Parliament; and former Kapu MLA Lalaji R Mendon.
In addition to the elected representatives, several local leaders and activists from Udupi district and neighbouring areas have also been listed as accused in the case.
Police officials said further investigation is under way to ascertain the individual roles and extent of involvement of those named in the FIR.