High Court tells Marigowda to move lower court for bail

The High Court on Tuesday said bail cannot be granted to K Marigowda, ex-president of Mysuru Zilla Panchayat and a close aide of Chief Minister Siddaramiah. Justice Anand Byrareddy asked how bail can be granted to a person who has prevented a woman government official from executing her work.

After the counsel representing Marigowda withdrew the bail application, the court dismissed the petition and directed the petitioner to approach the lower court.

During the hearing, the counsel for Marigowda sought directions to the lower court to grant bail immediately as his client had agreed to surrender. The bench refused to give any directions and said the bail application can be heard as per the list. Marigowda had approached the High Court seeking anticipatory bail after Mysuru Deputy Commissioner (DC) C Shikha filed a complaint accusing him of preventing her from executing her work and threatening her with dire consequences. The counsel for Marigowda said that he had the right to question the DC as to when she would relieve the tahsildar who had already been transferred.  He said Marigowda was personally affected as the tahsildar was not relieved.

Probe stayed
The High Court has granted a stay to the investigation under Karnataka Control of Organized Crime Act, 2000 (KCOC Act) while hearing the petition of Santhosh Agasimani, an accused in the II PU chemistry paper leak.

The petitioner, a second division assistant in the sub-treasury at Hanagal in Haveri, contended that he cannot be booked under KCOC Act as it is the first time any case has been booked against him. Santosh has been booked under various sections of the IPC and under the provisions of the Karnataka Education Act, 1983 and provisions of the KCOC Act.  Justice Anand Byrareddy ordered emergent notice to the state government and adjourned the hearing.