HC refuses to quash proceedings against MLA Kashappanavar

The High Court of Karnataka on Tuesday refused to quash the lower court proceedings against Hungund MLA Vijayanand Kashappanavar who is accused of assaulting a police constable on duty. Justice Anand Byrareddy, disposing of the petition, came down heavily on the MLA and said: “How can an MLA behave like this and abuse a constable on duty?”

The judge said if the constable has mustered courage to file a complaint against the MLA, then the incident is true and genuine. “The MLA must be a role model to society and not behave in this manner in public,” he observed and dismissed Kashappanavar’s petition.Kashappanavar, along with his friends, including Somashekhar Gowda, who is named in the II PU Chemistry paper leak case, were celebrating a birthday at the Skyye Bar in UB City on July 1, 2014.

Two beat constables, Kiran Kumar and Prashanth Naik, received information that the bar was serving food and drinks beyond the permissible time of 11.30 pm. They reached the spot at 1 am and found Kashappanavar and his friends at the bar. The constables asked the MLA and his friends to leave the place.

When they refused, the constables clicked photos and videographed the MLA and his friends to which Kashappanavar objected. The MLA has contended that the constable, by videographing them, had invaded his privacy. There was a scuffle and the MLA and his friends abused and threatened the constables of dire consequences.

The constables filed an FIR against Kashappanavar and others accusing them of obstructing a government servants from discharging their duties, after which, proceedings were initiated against the MLA. Kashappanavar approached the high court seeking quashing of the proceedings. During the hearing, public prosecutor Chethan Desai argued that there was CCTV footage of the MLA slapping the constables. The court, refusing to quash the proceedings, disposed of the petition.