Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Credit: PTI File Photo
New Delhi: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has approached the Supreme Court, questioning the validity of criminal proceedings initiated against him and other leaders for a protest march organised in Bengaluru on February 14, 2022.
He has challenged February 6, 2024 order of the Karnataka High Court, dismissing his plea to quash the criminal proceedings with Rs 10,000 cost.
His plea contended none of the quintessential ingredients of the offences alleged were made out. The present proceedings are nothing but an abuse of the process of law and would lead to undue harassment, on the basis of vague allegations, it claimed.
"The incident complained lasted for almost an hour and no violent action or use of criminal force has been alleged against any of the members of the procession, it is thus submitted that the prosecution cannot be allowed to continue on such frivolous incidents where no allegation of criminality has been attributed to any of the members of the assembly," his plea said.
The High Court, however, failed to ascertain whether the prosecution of the petitioner would be legitimate in the given facts and circumstances, it contended.
The plea also said the HC lost sight of the fact that the assembly did not lead to any violence or use of criminal force to present an imminent threat to the public at large or to the members of the then ruling dispensation or any public servant.
The protest march was organised to demand resignation of then Minister K S Eshwarappa following death of a civil contractor alleging demand of commission.
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