HC relief to Police Mahasangha chief in sedition case

The high court has stayed sedition proceedings against Karnataka Police Mahasangha president V Shashidhar.

The court gave the ruling on Shashidhar’s petition for quashing the charge sheet filed by the CCB before the 1st ACMM court in 2018, accusing him of sedition. On June 4, 2016, Shashidhar had called for a police protest (Sipayi Dange), demanding that the state government address police personnel’s demands such as a pay hike, pension and other facilities. He had urged constables and officers to protest against the government.

Opposing the invocation of IPC Section 124A (sedition), Shashidhar argued that he had done nothing against the government. He also contended the 1st ACMM had no jurisdiction to take cognisance of the offences alleged in the charge sheet.