Court reissues summons to Eshwarappa

The VII Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Jaishankar had issued summons earlier on February 28 and Eshwarappa was supposed to appear in court on Wednesday. But, after the court was informed that Eshwarappa was in Puttaparthi to attend the last rites of Sai Baba, it directed the re-issue of summons. It said he has to appear in court personally on May 28 to obtain bail.

The case

A complaint has been filed against Eshwarappa by advocate Dharmapal Gowda for making provocative speeches, abetting the public to indulge in a bundh and further abetting his party workers to commit offences punishable under the Indian Penal Code.

The complainant said that due to his call for a bundh, party workers and the public forcibly closed shops, blocked roads, trains, looted shops, threw stones and set fire to BMTC and KSRTC buses and assaulted people.

The complainant also submitted that the postponement of exams due to the bundh caused mental trauma to the students.

He said the accused is solely liable for all consequences and offences as he abetted the crime by giving a provocative speech through the media and calling for a bundh. The complainant said the accused had committed offences punishable under Sections 117, 147, 149, 150, 153, 341, 426 and 427 of the Indian Penal Code.