MLA Released on bail

MLA BK Sangameshwar, who was arrested on Thursday night, was produced before the second additional civil judge and JMFC on Friday morning by the police, who released the accused on conditional bail. The conditions stipulated that Sangameshwar will report to the police on every Sunday, he shall not disturb the peace as well as law and order in the constituency and that he shall appear before the court whenever he is summoned to do so.

Shops and commercial establishments remained closed on Friday morning following the tense situation prevailed in Bhadravati city since Thursday late night. Elaborate security arrangements were made by the police and the superintendent of police of Shimoga Raman Gupta personally supervised the law and order situation. Talking to reporters he said that situation was under control and it would remain so in future also. He also told that no untoward incident was reported except for a stone pelting incident in Santhe Maidan road near MLA Sangameshwar’s house.

Although security was beefed up before arresting the MLA on Thursday night few stray incidents took place in old town area. Tyres were set afire on the roads by the supporters of MLA Sangameshwar. Some threw stones at the jeep in which old town sub inspector Nanjappa was seated resulting in damage to the windshield of the jeep. The officer, however, was safe. DySP HD Mendoza, Rural sub inspector Thimmappa and two other constables were reportedly injured while discharging their duties in old town. The police had to wield their canes to disperse the agitating mob near MLA’s house. Few supporters of MLA including councilor Lakshmamma were injured. Ten people were reportedly injured in the incident.

Assistant public prosecutor HD Anandakumar pleaded on behalf of the government. Advocate BS Mahesh Kumar who supplicated for the accused MLA submitted that the accused was not involved in the charges mooted against him and further clarified that the tahsildar, who was the returning officer, was supposed to examine the application submitted to him to include the names of the two voters whose names were missing from the electoral list. This application was submitted well within time to tahsildar and the applicant has also received an acknowledgement from the tahsildar. The secretary of APMC has also recommended the inclusion of the names of the two voters from the traders’ constituency which was left out in the electoral list. But, the tahsildar has ignored all these facts and denied the issue of ballot sheets to the two voters on the day of election of directors to APMC on April 25. This will tantamount the constitutional rights of those two voters, and the elected MLA had every right to intervene and interrogate the violations, the defendant’s lawyer maintained.

Former MLC Shanthaveerappa Gowda, district congress sevadal leader YH Nagaraj, Ramegowda accompanied by MLA’s elder brother BK Jagannath and other local Congress leaders shouted slogans against the Tahsildar Abhijin and alleged that he had lodged a false complaint against the MLA. Shanthaveerappa Gowda was about to address a public meeting in front of the Court. But, it was withdrawn when the police informed that it would violate the prohibitory orders under section 144 CrPC which was clamped in the city since Thursday late night.

The mob outside the Court hall aired slogans praising MLA Sangameshwar when they learnt that the MLA was released on conditional bail. They took MLA in a procession to his house ignoring the prohibitory orders.

MLA Sangameshwar, who spoke to reporters, said that his arrest was a political motivated one. He specifically nitpicked that it was a conspiracy hatched by chief minister BS Yeddyurappa and Rajya Sabha member Ayanur Manjunath. If this is the result of fighting against injustice for a legislator then what is the fate of a common man questioning against the maladministration, he interrogated.

(Pic. 29bvt1-1 – Caption – MLA Sangameshwar stepping out of police van to appear before the court at Bhadravati on Friday morning.

Pic. 29bvt2-2 – Caption – Sangameshwar’s advocate BS Mahesh Kumar talking to MLA who is sitting in the police van.

Pic. 29bvt1-3 – Caption – MLA Sangameshwar coming out from the court with a triumphant smile on his face after he was release on conditional bail

Pic 29bv51-4 – Caption – Former MLC Shanthaveerappa Gowda and other Congress leaders condemning the act of arresting the MLA BK Sangameshwar describing it as a political conspiracy of the BS Yeddyurppa’s government)