Attack on BBMP officials: HC bins trial deadline plea

The High Court of Karnataka has rejected a plea for extending the August 31 deadline to complete the trial in the Ramamurthy Nagar case.

The case pertains to the mob attack on BBMP officials and labourers for removing flex banners in the area. The accused persons had filed the plea.

A division bench headed by Chief Justice Dinesh Maheshwari also imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 on the applicants who are said to be enlarged on bail.

The court said in its order that the fine collected should be deposited in the appropriate relief funds to help the areas of the state affected in the recent floods.

The applicants are the accused persons in the criminal case pending in the court of X Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate.

They have contended that they were not granted an opportunity to cross-examine the public witnesses properly and had sought for directions to permit them to cross-examine the witnesses, who are BBMP officials.

They also said that the magistrate had rejected their counsel’s prayer to recall the witnesses in an order dated August 28, 2018. And a petition under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure challenging the said order is being filed by the applicants.

The court directed to recall the witnesses and for their cross-examination. It further stated that if the applicants make the deposit of Rs 20,000 to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund 2018, on Wednesday and produce it before the Magistrate, the Magistrate may allow applicant’s counsel to cross-examine the said witnesses on the relevant and material aspects.

Advocate General Uday Holla and BBMP counsel V Sreenidhi assured the court that the said witnesses shall remain present before the Magistrate on Wednesday afternoon.

The court stated in its order that the Interlocutory Application filed by the applicants seeking their impleadment in petitions is kept pending.

It further said the petition under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure sought to be filed shall stand disposed of. The petition is listed to be heard on August 31.