Today, On 22th August, The Karnataka High Court issued stay against State IT Minister Priyank Kharge related to a 2022 protest march. The court’s decision came after noting that the Supreme Court previously stayed proceedings against other Congress leaders, including Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, in the same case.
Bangalore: The Karnataka High Court, On Thursday, temporarily stayed all legal proceedings against State Information Technology Minister Priyank Kharge concerning his involvement in a 2022 protest march demanding the resignation of a BJP minister.
Justice M Nagaprasanna issued the interim stay after Senior Advocate Sandesh Chowta, representing Kharge, informed the Court that the Supreme Court already granted interim relief to the co-accused in the case, including Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
In April 2022, Priyank Kharge, Siddaramaiah, and several other Congress leaders from Karnataka were charged for participating in a protest march demanding the resignation of former Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister KS Eshwarappa, following the suicide of a contractor.
The police accused them of obstructing vehicular traffic on public roads, disrupting public order, and causing inconvenience to the public.
A different High Court bench had earlier rejected a petition to quash the charges against co-accused politicians Siddaramaiah, Randeep Singh Surjewala, Ramalinga Reddy, and MB Patil. However, the Supreme Court later stayed the proceedings against these leaders.
On Thursday, Justice Nagaprasanna acknowledged the Supreme Court‘s directive and extended similar relief to Priyank Kharge.
The judge stated,
“As per the Senior Counsel, the co-accused had approached this Court seeking to quash the charges, which was dismissed on February 6, 2024. However, this dismissal was set aside, and the directions issued in that order were stayed by the Apex Court on February 19. The Petitioner (Kharge) is a co-accused. In light of the interim order granted by the Apex Court, there shall be an interim order of stay on all further proceedings before all courts concerning the petitioner.”
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This development brought a temporary pause to the legal challenges faced by Kharge and his fellow Congress leaders, as they await further legal determinations in the higher courts.
The case highlights the ongoing tensions between political activism and legal accountability in the state, with significant implications for the future of political protests in Karnataka.