Court orders registration of case against Karnataka Health Minister

Bengaluru:

A special court here has ordered registration of a criminal case against Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar after finding prima facie evidence that he had defamed an activist.

“This Court is of the considered opinion that the complainant has made out sufficient ground to proceed against the accused for the offense under Section 499 IPC which is punishable under Section 500 IPC and Section 501 IPC, r/w Section 34 is an offense under IPC, said the XLII Additional Magistrate Court, which is a special court to hear cases against sitting and former legislators, in its order on November 15.

The private complaint was filed by R Anjaneya Reddy of Chikkaballapura taluk. This Justice Preeth J.

The complainant Reddy claimed to be a social activist who had fought for irrigation schemes.

On June 20, 2019, when Sudhakar was appointed as the chairman of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, Reddy challenged it in the Karnataka High Court.

It is alleged that Sudhakar made derogatory statements against Reddy at a public function in Maralukunte village on June 27.

It was published in two leading newspapers.

The complaint made by Reddy states that Sudhakar had a grudge against him and made defamatory statements against him at a public function. He issued legal notices to Sudhakar and two newspapers, but he did not publicly apologise.

While ordering the registration of a criminal complaint, the court observed that “from perusal of the averments of the complaint and the affidavit of the complainant, it appears prima facie that the complainant has been defamed.

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