Daijiworld Media Network - Koppal (SP)

Koppal, Feb 19: Kannada poet and journalist Siraj Bisaralli, who is facing a case relating to reciting a poem criticizing Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) at Anegondi Utsav, surrendered in the court at Gangavathi on Tuesday, February 18. The court rejected his plea for interim bail, and handed him over to police custody till 2 pm on Wednesday, February 19.

Anegondi Utsav had been organized on January 9 and 10 in association with Kannada and culture department and district administration. Siraj Bisaralli had recited a poem penned by him at the Utsav. This poem had been shared on social website by Raj Bakshi of Kannadanet.com.

The poem reportedly raised questions about the time when the Prime minister will provide documents. The district BJP had approached the district superintendent of police, seeking to initiate steps against people who it said had misused a government forum and recited a poem that was outright anti-national. On the basis of the complaint, the police had registered a complaint against two persons.

On February 16, on behalf of the Bar Council of India, a delegation of advocates had undertaken fact finding visit to the residences of Siraj and Raj Bakshi at Koppal. The delegation had opined that registering case on the basis of recital of a poem is against the constitutional provisions. The council had also urged the state government to withdraw of the criminal case registered against Siraj and Raj Bakshi in Gangavathi police station.

On Tuesday, Siraj Bisaralli surrendered in Gangavathi court where the court is learnt to have rejected his request for interim bail, and handed him over to police custody till 2 pm on Wednesday.