K'taka BJP Responds to HC Ruling Nullifying Govt's Withdrawal of 43 Criminal Cases?

Bengaluru, May 29 (NationPress) The Karnataka BJP unit expressed its approval on Thursday regarding the High Court's decision to nullify the Congress-led government's order to withdraw 43 criminal cases, notably including those linked to the Hubballi riots.

Former Chief Minister and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai stated that the Karnataka High Court has admonished the state government for its choice to retract the case concerning the attack on the Hubballi police station, deeming the action inappropriate.

During a media briefing at the BJP office in Bengaluru, he noted that the High Court bench delivered its ruling on Thursday concerning the Hubballi riot case.

He emphasized that the state government had retracted a criminal case, and the court ruled that this decision was fundamentally flawed.

"I had previously mentioned that dropping a case involving an attack on a police station is unacceptable. However, due to political pressures and appeasement politics, the case was withdrawn. The court has rightly admonished the government. The state Cabinet should prioritize the interests of the state instead of engaging in appeasement politics. Even now, action must be taken against those implicated in the DJ Halli and KG Halli riots," he remarked.

When asked about the Mangaluru murder case, Bommai criticized the state government and police for failing to uphold law and order.

"People no longer fear the police. Police stations have turned into hubs of corruption. Consequently, anti-social elements are taking the law into their own hands. Due to the government's appeasement politics, public trust in the government is diminishing," he stated.

BJP MLC C.T. Ravi also endorsed the Karnataka High Court's decision to annul the government's order to withdraw 43 criminal cases, including those associated with the Hubballi riots.

Addressing the press on Thursday, he condemned the Congress government's contradictory position.

"On one hand, the Congress party and government speak of establishing an Anti-Communal Force, yet on the other hand, they extend state protection to communal forces," he asserted in response to inquiries about the High Court's quashing of the withdrawal of riot-related cases.

"Were all 43 withdrawn cases truly people's movements? Were they cases involving Kannada language activists or farmers' protests? These were incidents where police stations were set ablaze, public property was vandalized, and conspiracies for inciting communal violence were hatched. The government even withdrew those cases," BJP MLC Ravi pointed out.

"You provide protection, instill fear by portraying yourselves as their saviors, and transform them into a votebank. This is how you cultivate communal elements. Then you claim you want an Anti-Communal Force? Your Cabinet is riddled with a communal virus. First, address that virus, then discuss forming new forces," he asserted.

"We've witnessed how your empathy operates," he continued.

"When a Hindu activist is slain, you label him a rowdy-sheeter and decline to visit his family. Yet when a member of a non-Hindu community is murdered, your emotions overflow," BJP MLC Ravi charged.

He deemed the High Court's ruling timely, warning: "Do not attempt to transform the entire state into another DJ Halli or KG Halli (referring to areas in Bengaluru that experienced communal violence). The assault on the Udayagiri police station in Mysuru was a direct consequence of your decision to withdraw these cases. If you possessed any discretion regarding what to politicize and what to avoid, the court wouldn't have needed to issue such a stern rebuke," he concluded.

In a setback for the Karnataka government, the High Court on Thursday invalidated the state's initiative to withdraw 43 criminal cases, including those related to the 2022 Hubballi police station riot cases.

The Karnataka High Court bench, headed by Chief Justice N.V. Anjaria and Justice K.V. Aravind, delivered the order by nullifying the state's directive to prosecutors to retract 43 criminal cases.

A public interest litigation on this matter was filed by advocate Girish Bharadwaj, contesting the government order.

The High Court has entirely invalidated the state government's order to withdraw the cases, declaring it void from the outset.

Consequently, all 43 criminal cases—including those concerning the Hubballi riots—are set to resume as if they had never been withdrawn.

The cases that were targeted for withdrawal included those against farmers' leaders and Kannada activists, in addition to cases filed against the individuals involved in the Hubballi riot case.

Petitioner Bharadwaj argued before the court that the state cannot instruct Public Prosecutors to withdraw criminal cases, as they hold the final authority in this matter under Section 321 of the CrPC, which allows for the withdrawal of cases.

He also highlighted that the Department of Law, Government Litigations Department, and Prosecution had advised against the attempt to withdraw criminal cases filed for rioting, attempted murder, and assaults on police officers.

The petition specifically referenced the Hubballi riot case.

Following an inflammatory social media post, an enraged mob vandalized the police station and hurled shoes at it.

The petition stated that the government's action raised doubts about its intentions.

"The 43 cases were selectively chosen. Highly influential individuals such as former Ministers, legislators, and presidents of powerful organizations are involved," the petition noted.