Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, May 4: Former union minister, B Janardan Poojary, has demanded the immediate arrest of Chief Minister (CM) B S Yeddyurappa, after obtaining permission from the court under section 201 of Criminal Procedure Code (CPC). He sought this step against the CM for the latter’s action in declaring minister Halappa innocent, even before holding proper investigation into the rape charges he has been facing. 

He was addressing a press conference held here on Monday May 3. “None of the state investigation agencies like criminal investigation department and the police would be able to hold impartial inquiry into the charges the minister has been facing, after the CM himself gave him a clean chit. As per law, no one can hold a man innocent before the conclusion of proper inquiry, either knowingly or unknowingly. This smacks of a clear attempt by the Chief Minister to bring pressure on the investigating officers, derailing the process of investigation, and to protect the accused,” Poojary reasoned.

He also criticized the state government for failing to arrest Halappa even after a detailed report about his crime was published by a daily, and a case was registered against him. He asserted that it is the bounden duty of the Chief Minister to entrust this case to the Central Bureau of Investigation. Poojary said that the policemen are expected to register a case under section 376 of the CPC pertaining to rape, and arrest Halappa immediately.

Poojary said that Halappa will be convicted to seven to ten years of imprisonment, if the investigation moves on the right direction. He added that the evidence of the victim woman would be sufficient to hold the accused guilty. “In such cases, no evidence by way of medical examination or otherwise, is necessary. I am not demanding that the government should fall. Let Jagadish Shettar become the Chief Minister and run the government,” he suggested.

He also praised the role of the media in bringing to light the case, but for which, he felt, that the incident would have been hushed up. "Politicians like me would have buried the case but for the media," he commented.

In the meantime, Congress spokesperson, Ivan D'Souza, has declared that the Dakshina Kannada district Congress committee will hold a protest in front of the office of the district deputy commissioner on Tuesday May 4 at 10 am, demanding action against Halappa. "The protest would be led by district Congress president B Ramanath Rai," he added.