Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jul 8: Through a verdict delivered on Saturday July 7, the state high court absolved Dakshina Kannada member of parliament, Nalin Kumar Kateel, and Hindu Jagaran Vedike leader, Jagadish Karanth, as well as some others of the charges of delivering communally provocative addresses at Sullia during the year 2009.

A programme titled 'Hindu Jana Jagruthi' had been organized in the ground adjacent to Lord Chennakeshava temple, Sullia, on February 12, 2009. Jagadish Karanth, Nalin Kumar Kateel, and ten other speakers had addressed the gathering. A worker of Social and Democratic Party of India and gram panchayat member, K S Ummar, in a private complaint filed on March 4, 2009, had accused these speakers of delivering communally inflammatory speeches.

The case was investigated by police department. After obtaining special permission from the government, charge sheet was filed in the court at Sullia. Later, under the directions of Supreme Court, the case was taken up by the state high court. During the hearing, the lawyer for the accused argued that the complainant had delayed filing of the case without backed by any compelling reasons. He noted that the government, by permitting prosecution, had clearly violated law. Moreover, the government has failed to prove the charge that the accused had delivered communally provocative addresses backed by malicious intentions, he pointed out. The court, which upheld these arguments, acquitted the accused of the charges.

Advocate, Arun Shyam, had appeared on behalf of the accused.