Criminal contempt sought against Ambareesh, others

According to the application under Section 15(1) of Contempt of Courts Act filed by advocate Amaranathan, actors Ambareesh, Jaggesh, Vijay and Rockline Venkatesh “used their power” to make Vijayalakshmi (Darshan’s wife) withdraw her statement, and give a contrary statement.

“This amounts to interference with the judicial process, which amounts to contempt of court, as per the definition of criminal contempt under the Contempt of Courts Act, “ the application said.

Vijayalakshmi had lodged a police complaint stating that her husband assaulted her and an FIR was registered under Sections 498A, 323, 355, 506(B) 307 of IPC, and Section 27 of the Arms Act.

However, the very next day, the four met Vijayalakshmi and forced her to give a contrary statement before the court, according to the application.

The actors even made a statement that they succeeded in persuading the police to drop the case. The offences alleged in the complaint are grievous in nature and not compoundable.

Amarnathan has contended that after an FIR is registered, the magistrate court gets the jurisdiction and the investigating officer has to submit his report. Any person interfering with the investigation would be committing contempt of court.

Under the Contempt of Courts Act, in any case of criminal contempt of a subordinate court, the High Court may take action on a reference made to it by the subordinate court  or on a motion made by the Advocate General.

Order reserved

The High Court of Karnataka on Wednesday reserved its orders on the anticipatory bail petition filed by former chairman of the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) H N Krishna and others in connection with the recruitment scam during the years 1998, 1999 and 2004.

Krishna, D R Roopa, Asha Parveen, Salma Firdous and Y B Archana had moved the High Court seeking bail after the CID filed chargesheet against them. Krishna was chargsheeted for irregularities and others for submitting false documents during the recruitment. The Government opposed the bail plea contending that the petitioners had been facing charges of destroying evidence and if granted bail would tamper with evidence.

Darshan bail plea hearing on Sept 19

The bail application of Darshan is scheduled to come up for hearing before the First Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court on September 19. The Court on Tuesday refused to accept the changed version of Vijayalakshmi that she suffered injuries due to a fall in the bathroom and not in an assault by Darshan. The court has directed the public prosecutor to file objections.