The police have filed a first information report (FIR) against 15 persons, including Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mevani and actor Prakash Rai, on the charge of holding a convention through a forum called Samvidhana Ulivigagi Samithi without obtaining permission from the district administration.
Flying squad officer M V Tusharamani has filed a complaint against Gause Moideen, Gause Muneer, K L Ashok, Jignesh Mewani, Prakash Rai, Yusuf Haji, Kalkuli Vittal Hegde, Puttaswamy, Krishnamurthy, Mahesh, Umesh, Chandre Gowda, Paramesh, Irshad Ahmmed, and Shivu.
The organiser Gause Moideen had sought permission for hosting the programme on May 3 by applying online.
The Kannada and Culture Department assistant director had asked him to contact the district electoral officer for permission.
As he failed to get a letter from the district electoral officer, the permission was not granted.
Without the permission, the programme was organised at Ande Chatra in Chikkamagaluru, which was attended by 200 people.
According to the complaint, the organisers had not sought permission from the electoral officer and a loud speaker was used, thus violating the model code of conduct.
Meanwhile, MLA Jignesh Mevani has criticised the Chikkamagaluru police action in a tweet. SP Annamalai has condemned the tweet.