Bangalore: PIL Seeks to End Halappa ‘illness’
 
Bangalore, Jun 17 (DC): A public interest litigation filed against tainted former minister H. Halappa has urged the state high court to put him behind bars as he is feigning illness to avoid jail. In his PIL, K. Raghavendra, a city-based advocate, said the accused has managed to stay away from jail for almost 37 days despite facing serious charges, including rape. Such a convention will encourage criminals and is bound to have an adverse impact on society, the PIL stated.

The PIL claimed that the former minister doesn’t merit medical attention for so long and alleged that he has used his political clout to stay in hospital since the day he was arrested by the state police.

The PIL sought the intervention of the court and a direction to the authorities concerned to send the accused behind bars. The advocate, who is a resident of Hanumantha Nagar, has made home secretary, superintendent of police of Parappana Agrahra jail in the city, superintendent of police of Shimoga, superintendents of Victoria Hospital and McGann Hospital in Shimoga and Halappa as respondents to the PIL.

The PIL has also questioned the authorities’ decision to admit Halappa to hospitals since he has been arrested and remanded to custody on rape charges. The division bench comprising Justice V.G. Sabhahit and Justice A.S. Bopanna which heard the matter, has adjourned the hearing to June 23 with directions to the respondents to procure the medical and other records of Halappa by then.