A view of the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru.
Credit: PTI photo
Bengaluru: In a controversial move, the state cabinet on Thursday approved the withdrawal of 60 criminal cases filed against various groups, including pro-farmer, pro-Dalit, pro-Kannada, and pro-Hindu activists, as well as individuals involved in a 2019 stone-pelting incident in Chittapur, which followed a police seizure of cattle being transported, based on a tip-off from Hindu activists.
Among the most high-profile withdrawals is the 2019 case against supporters of Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who were booked for stone-pelting on buses and government offices in Kanakapura after his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate. Also included are supporters of Shivakumar’s brother, former Bangalore Rural MP D K Suresh, who in 2012 had gheraoed then CM, protesting the exclusion of Suresh from a function to garland Dr B R Ambedkar’s statue.
Despite the political weight behind the decision, it is reliably learnt that the Cabinet acted against the advice of key departments, including the Home Department - the DGP and IGP, the Director of Prosecutions and Government Litigation, and the Law Department.
All three authorities opined that these cases were “not fit” for withdrawal and that “no public interest” was involved, making the move legally and administratively untenable.
However, during the customary briefing after the Cabinet meeting, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil, stated that the Cabinet Sub-Committee’s recommendations to drop the cases against pro-farmers, pro-Dalit activists had been accepted.
Other cases dropped
Ganesha procession-related skirmishes in Ramanagar, Koppal and other areas, following a petition from former Home Minister Araga Jnanendra.
Farmer and Dalit activists booked during agitations across the state.
25–30 Muslim youth in Chittapur, booked for stone-pelting after a cattle transport seizure in 2019.