High Court stays FIR against Bantwal riots accused

The High Court of Karnataka on Friday granted stay on the investigation into the FIR filed against five men accused of creating riots in Bantwal in Dakshina Kannada district during funeral procession of RSS worker Sharath Madiwala.

Justice Aravind Kumar granted stay on the FIR registered against Sathyajeeth Surathakal, Harish Poonja, Murali Krishna Hasanthadka, Sharan Pumpwell and Pradeep Kumar.

The judge granted stay after watching the video footage recorded by the police during the funeral procession of Sharath. Justice Kumar said that he did not find any evidence in the video to book an FIR against the accused.

The five accused have moved the court seeking quashing of the FIR filed against them for participating in and creating problems during the funeral procession, despite prohibitory orders being in force.

The judge directed the prosecutors to submit all the records of the case and adjourned the hearing to August 22.