Today(on 19th July), The Karnataka High Court has stayed the FIR against BJP MLA Y Bharath Shetty over allegations of a provocative speech against Rahul Gandhi. Justice Krishna S Dixit’s interim order provides temporary relief, halting any further criminal proceedings.
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BENGALURU: Today(on 19th July), The Karnataka High Court issued a stay on the First Information Report (FIR) filed against Y Bharath Shetty, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Mangaluru North. The FIR pertains to allegations of a provocative speech made by Shetty against Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
Justice Krishna S Dixit passed an interim order, effectively halting the FIR and any subsequent criminal proceedings against Shetty. This decision brings temporary relief to the MLA, who has been under scrutiny for his controversial remarks.
“The Court has stayed the FIR and all related criminal proceedings, and has issued a notice to the Karnataka police, requiring a response within four weeks.”
-confirmed Senior Advocate Aruna Shyam, who represented Shetty in court.
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The FIR was registered by the Mangaluru police on July 10, following a complaint lodged by Anil Kumar, a councillor of the Mangaluru City Corporation. The complaint invoked Section 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, a provision that deals with offences against public servants and their duty performance.
According to the complaint, Shetty, during a protest organized by the BJP, allegedly stated that Rahul Gandhi should be slapped for his comments against Hindus made in the Lok Sabha. This statement by Shetty ignited controversy and led to the legal actions against him.
In response to the FIR, Shetty approached the Karnataka High Court seeking to quash the charges, arguing that the FIR was politically motivated and that the allegations against him were baseless. His legal team has maintained that the charges lack substantive evidence and are part of a political vendetta.
Adding to the complexity of the case, on July 11, a court in Bengaluru had granted anticipatory bail to Shetty. This earlier court decision allowed Shetty to avoid immediate arrest, pending further legal proceedings.
The current stay by the Karnataka High Court provides Shetty with a crucial window to prepare his defense against the charges. It also highlights the ongoing legal battle and the intricate dynamics of political and legal intersections in India.
