Assembly directs to arrest Ravi Belagere and Anil Raju

Belagavi: The Karnataka Legislative Assembly rejected a motion seeking reconsideration of the Speaker’s sentence to two tabloid journalists to one year in jail for breach of privilege over their alleged defamatory articles against legislators.

Ravi Belagere, editor of Hi Bangalore, and Anil Raju, Yelahanka Voice, was rejected by a voice vote and the duo have been arrested with a fine of Rs 10,000 for breach of privilege.

The breach of privilege charge was over an article published in Hi Bangalore in September 2014 about Koliwad’s alleged bid to get a ministerial berth in the Congress government in Karnataka.

A request by Congress MLA B M Nagaraj to order punitive action against Belagere for not appearing before the privileges committee despite multiple notices was upheld by Koliwad as the Speaker on June 21.

The charge against Anil Raj was brought by BJP MLA S R Vishwanath, who accused the journalist of consistently publishing defamatory articles, and continuing to do so despite appearing before the privileges committee and tendering an apology.