Daijiworld Media Network – Puttur (MS)

Puttur, Apr 24: The fifth additional district court of the city stayed the prison sentence awarded by Sullia the court to Sai Giridhar Rai, a resident of Bellare in the case of telephonic abuse of KPCC president D K Shivakumar, when he was serving as energy minister of the state.

The court upheld the argument of the lawyer for petitioner Giridhar Rai and said that it was not a crime to question government officials or those who are in public service. Lawyer B Narasimha Prasad argued for Giridhar Rai.

It was alleged that Giridhar Rai had abused the then energy minister Shivakumar on February 28, 2016 over electricity supply issues on telephone. Mescom officials had filed a complaint in this regard in Bellare police station.

Rai was arrested for abuse, threat to life, libel and obstruction to duty. The inquiry was done by Sullia court which pronounced the prison sentence of two years on April 18.

Accused Giridhar Rai had pleaded against the verdict of Sullia court in the fifth additional district court of Puttur.

• Sullia: Abusing D K Shivakumar over phone call - Accused sentenced to two years jail, fined
• Sullia: D K Shivakumar records evidence in court, visits Subrahmanya temple
• Sullia: Warrant on D K Shivakumar - Court appearance on October 5
• Sullia: D K Shivakumar fails to appear in court - Warrant issued again
• Sullia: Repeated absence - Court serves warrant against D K Shivakumar
• Bengaluru: Caller's arrest - DKS flooded with phone calls from angry citizens
• Energy minister receives flak for getting distressed citizen arrested
• Sullia: Frustrated over power cuts, man lambasts DKS, arrested