Karnataka HC quashes hate speech cases against Bommai
Bengaluru, June 27 (UNI) The Karnataka High Court today quashed two criminal cases filed against former Chief Minister and BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai, who was facing charges of promoting enmity between religious groups over remarks made during a political rally against the Waqf Board.
The allegations stemmed from a protest rally held by the BJP in November 2024, where Bommai had sharply criticised the Congress-led State government and the Waqf Board. He was reported to have said, "If a stone is thrown in Savanur, wherever it falls, it is Waqf land." The comment was perceived as inflammatory and led to charges under Section 196(1)(a) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
Challenging the FIRs, Bommai moved the High Court seeking quashing of the cases, terming them "politically motivated and legally untenable."
Justice S.R. Krishna Kumar, who presided over the matter, ruled in Bommai's favour. 'In light of the vague, bald, omnibus, laconic allegations made in the impugned complaint, coupled with the principles stated by the apex court and this court, the continuation of the proceedings would amount to an abuse of process of law,' the judge said in a strongly-worded order.
The Court made it clear that the relief granted would apply solely to Bommai and not to other co-accused in the case, if any.
Bommai was represented by Senior Advocate Prabhuling K. Navadgi, with Advocate Shivaparasad Shantanagoudar filing the petitions on his behalf.
The verdict is expected to bring significant political relief to the former CM, who has been a vocal critic of what the BJP has called 'discriminatory land policies' allegedly favouring minority institutions under the current government.
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