Bantwal violence: High Court stays FIR against 5 Hindutva leaders

Bengaluru, Aug 19: the Karnataka High Court has granted stay on the investigation into the FIR filed against five Hindutva leaders accused of creating riots in Bantwal in Dakshina Kannada district during funeral procession of RSS worker Sharath Madiwala.

Justice Aravind Kumar granted stay on the FIR registered against  Satyajit Surathkal, BJP backward class morcha state secretary, Sharan Pumpwell, Bajarang Dal state convener, Pradeep Pumpwell, Bajrang Dal leader, Harish Poonja, president of Dakshina Kannada district unit of BJP Yuva Morcha, Muralikrishna Hasantadka, Dakshina Pranta Goraksha Pramukh

All of them were accused of conspiring in the stone throwing during the procession on July 8.

The judge granted stay after watching the video footage recorded by the police during the funeral procession of Sharath. Justice Kumar said that he did not find any evidence in the video to book an FIR against the accused.

The five accused have moved the court seeking quashing of the FIR filed against them for participating in and creating problems during the funeral procession, despite prohibitory orders being in force.

The judge directed the prosecutors to submit all the records of the case and adjourned the hearing to August 22.

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