The Karnataka High Court has directed police not to take any urgent action against former Chief Minister and Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy in relation to a defamation complaint filed by M. Chandrashekhar, head of the Lokayukta SIT. Chandrashekhar’s complaint alleged that Kumaraswamy’s remarks about him were defamatory and intended to influence the investigation of an illegal mining case.
In response, Kumaraswamy, along with his son Nikhil Kumaraswamy and JD(S) MLA Suresh Babu, filed a petition to quash the FIR registered by the Sanjaynagar police, citing the allegations as false. The matter was taken up by Justice M. Nagaprasanna’s single-judge bench on Wednesday evening.
Following arguments, the bench recorded the state’s assurance, given by Additional Government Prosecutor B.N. Jagadeesh, that no coercive action would be taken against the petitioners pending further proceedings. The court ordered that no immediate steps be taken against Kumaraswamy and others until the next hearing.
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The High Court also dismissed the petitioners’ request for a stay on the case, stating that if the prosecution violates its commitment, the petitioners can promptly approach the court.
