4 days ago
Karnataka High Court Questions Whitefield Police Custody Over Kamra Show
Mohan Gowda did not want a comedy show by Kunal Kamra to take place in Bengaluru.
He complained to the police about the planned show.
The show was later cancelled, and Gowda posted online that it was a victory for Hindu unity.
Police opened a case, saying the post could create disharmony in society.
Gowda’s lawyer said officers took him from Udupi to Bengaluru at 2:00 am.
The lawyer also said police gave Gowda a notice to appear within three days even though he was already being held.
The Karnataka High Court questioned whether the police had followed the law.
The judge said the Whitefield Police appeared to have broken the law repeatedly.
Senior police officials were asked to explain the alleged violations.
The Karnataka High Court criticized Whitefield Police over Mohan Gowda’s detention after he celebrated the cancellation of Kunal Kamra’s Bengaluru show.
Gowda, associated with the Hindi Rashtra Samanvaya Samithi, had opposed the proposed show through a representation to police.
Police initiated a suo motu case, alleging Gowda’s social-media post caused disharmony in society.
Gowda’s lawyer said police took him from Udupi to Bengaluru at 2:00 am as though he had committed a heinous offence.
The court questioned the use of a Section 35(3) BNSS notice after Gowda was already in custody and ordered senior officers to respond.
- Who
- The Karnataka High Court, Justice M Nagaprasanna, Whitefield Police, petitioner Mohan Gowda, and comedian Kunal Kamra.
- What
- The court questioned Whitefield Police’s handling of Gowda’s custody and the use of a Section 35(3) BNSS notice after his detention.
- Where
- The case involved Whitefield Police Station in Bengaluru and Gowda’s detention in Udupi.
- When
- The hearing took place on Friday; Gowda was reportedly detained at 2:00 am.
- Why
- Police alleged that Gowda’s social-media post celebrating the show’s cancellation caused disharmony in society.
Gowda and Court Concerns
Police Allegations
Basis for the case
Gowda and Court Concerns
Gowda challenged the FIR, while the court questioned the legality of the police action against him.
Police Allegations
Whitefield Police initiated a suo motu case alleging that Gowda’s post caused disharmony in society.
Manner of detention
Gowda and Court Concerns
Gowda’s lawyer said he was taken from Udupi to Bengaluru at 2:00 am as if he had committed a heinous offence.
Police Allegations
The articles report the police action but do not provide the police’s explanation for the timing or manner of the detention.
Use of the police notice
Gowda and Court Concerns
The court noted that the Section 35(3) BNSS notice appeared to have been given after Gowda was already secured and taken into custody.
Police Allegations
The articles do not include a police response explaining why the notice was issued while Gowda was already in custody.
Key facts
- Court
- Karnataka High Court
- Judge
- Justice M Nagaprasanna
- Petitioner
- Mohan Gowda, associated with the Hindi Rashtra Samanvaya Samithi
- Police station
- Whitefield Police Station, Bengaluru
- Relevant provision
- Section 35(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita
- Reported detention time
- 2:00 am
- Court direction
- Senior police officials, including the Deputy Commissioner of Police and Assistant Commissioner of Police, were directed to address the alleged violations.
Quotes
Justice M Nagaprasanna
Karnataka High Court judge hearing Gowda’s petition
“appears to have been violating the law time and again”
NDTV
“victory for Hindu unity.”
NDTV
Sources
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