Karnataka High Court stayed proceedings against Sameer MD over a video on Dharmasthala burial allegations, granting interim relief in the matter. Justice M Nagaprasanna passed the order on Sameer’s plea seeking quashing of the criminal case.
KARNATAKA: The Karnataka High Court ordered a stay to further police investigation into a criminal case file investigation into the case will remain suspended until that date.
Justice M Nagaprasanna issued the interim stay on Sameer’s petition seeking quashing of the FIR and asked the State to file its response.
The matter is listed for further hearing on April 22, and investigation into the case will remain suspended until that date.
The Court said,
“Learned Additional SPP to accept notice and file objections. List matter on 22nd. Further investigation shall remain stayed till the next date,”
The proceedings stem from a video uploaded on Sameer’s YouTube channel, Dhootha. In it, the YouTuber narrated allegations that a sanitary worker engaged by the Dharmasthala temple administration was compelled to bury the bodies of several women who had been sexually assaulted. The video also incorporated AI-generated visuals while recounting those claims.
The clip additionally included veiled references to D Veerendra Heggade, the head of the Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala temple.
A criminal complaint lodged over the video accused Sameer under Sections 192 (wantonly giving provocation to create riot), 240 (giving false information in respect of an offence committed), and 353 (public mischief) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS).
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Sameer has petitioned to have the case quashed. His counsel, Akshatha Shetty, told the Court that the video drew on the FIR and complaints filed in the Dharmasthala burials investigation and relied on material already broadcast on national television.
The State opposed the petition. Additional Special Public Prosecutor Asma Kouser urged that the Dharmasthala probe is still underway and that the investigation will reveal the facts. She criticized Sameer’s video for addressing a pending matter, alleging it misled the public and stoked hatred and ill will.
The Court asked the Additional SPP to watch the full video and submit the State’s objections by the next hearing date.
Additional SPP Kouser also sought an order requiring Sameer to file an affidavit undertaking that he will refrain from producing further videos on the ongoing Dharmasthala matter. The Court did not grant that request but orally advised Sameer, through his counsel, not to publish more such videos for the time being.
Case Title: Sameer MD v State of Karnataka.