Karnataka High Court stays Dharmasthala protest over Sowjanya rape and murder case

Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has passed an interim order of stay halting the protest planned for Sunday (April 6) at Dharmasthala in relation to the Sowjanya rape and murder case.

Justice M Nagaprasanna passed this order on Friday evening after hearing a petition filed by one Dhanakirthi Ariga.

During the hearing, the court was informed that the holding of peaceful protest was allowed by the high court. The advocate for the petitioner submitted certain WhatsApp messages in circulation/sent across in this regard that suggest a possible attempt to break the law. The WhatsApp messages showed discussions about gathering a large crowd and barging into the temple, the court was informed.

Justice Nagaprasanna perused the WhatsApp messages and observed that they are somewhat disturbing. “The WhatsApp messages indicate that if a lot of people would come, they would break into the temple at Dharmasthala. That was not the intent of the petition preferred earlier nor what was permitted by this court .The WhatsApp messages would undoubtedly indicate that the perpetrators are wanting to violate the orders passed by this court or the coordinate bench of this court,” the court said while passing the interim order of stay till the next date of hearing.