Former Minister and BJP leader Dr. CN Ashwath Narayan has recently moved the Karnataka High Court seeking the quashing of an FIR registered against him over his alleged derogatory remarks.
Narayan made derogatory remarks against CM Siddaramaiah during a rally before the State Assembly elections.
On May 24, 2023, the FIR was registered based on a complaint for Narayan’s remarks against Siddaramaiah during the election campaign in February 2023. A case was registered against the BJP leader under Sections 506 & 153 of IPC.
Narayan claimed that his remarks were made within the context of an election campaign that was intended to motivate his party workers.
The plea states, “Narayan without the intention to cause any sort of injury (verbally or physically) to the then opposition leader in State, made the speech only with an intention to defeating another political rival in the elections and it was meant in a way of vanquishing an opponent by way of electoral poll.”
Therefore, Narayan claimed that M Lakshmana (the complainant), chose to act on the statement made in February within a few days of the new ruling party coming to power.
The plea underscored, “The present complaint is filed for his (complainant) personal and political gain. The complaint does not refer to who the victim is, and is unclear how it amounts to criminal intimidation and provocation of an individual.”
Further, he also stated that the complainant was trying to cause disturbance by giving a political statement ‘color of enmity and hatred’ amongst the public.
Narayan alleged that the complainant was just trying to make the most of the electoral victory and then getting back at his political rivals.
In view of these grounds, among others, Narayan sought for quashing of the FIR.
