The Karnataka High Court on Friday dismissed two hate speech cases filed against Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai.
The cases had accused him of stirring religious discord through comments made about alleged encroachments on Waqf land.
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The complaints arose from remarks Bommai made during a BJP rally, where he criticized the Waqf Board and the Congress-led government in Karnataka for purportedly encroaching on lands belonging to farmers and temples. One statement in particular attracted attention:
“If a stone is thrown in Savanur, wherever it falls, it is waqf land.”
Based on these remarks, Bommai was charged under Section 196(1)(a) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, for allegedly promoting enmity between religious groups.
Court Cites Lack Of Specific Allegations, Calls Proceedings Abuse Of Process
Justice S.R. Krishna Kumar, in his ruling on Bommai’s petition, pointed out that the allegations against him were vague, broad, and lacked clarity. Drawing upon legal precedents set by the Supreme Court and the Karnataka High Court itself, the judge held that continuing the cases would amount to a misuse of the legal process.
“Given the vague and unsubstantiated nature of the complaint, the continuation of these proceedings would be an abuse of the process of law,” Justice Kumar stated before quashing the cases.
It is important to note that this dismissal applies only to Basavaraj Bommai and does not affect any other accused persons in the matter.
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