Mangaluru, Dec 5: In a huge relief for journalist-activist Naveen Soorinje, who was accused of not trying to stop the assailants during 2012 Manglauru home stay attack, the local sessions court has discharged him from all charges.
The development comes nearly five years after the State government led by the then-chef minister Siddaramaiah decided to withdraw the case against Mr Soorinje, who was made accused no. 44 in the case.
Mr Soorinje, who was a then a television reporter and Sharan, a cameraman had filmed and exposed the alleged assault and sexual harassment of young men and women by Hindu Jagaran Vedike activists at Morning Mist homestay in Padil on July 20, 2012.
Based on the complaint by one of the victims, the police arrested 44 persons, including Mr Soorinje and Mr Sharan, who were lodged in the prison for a few weeks. After the police filed charge-sheet, the government decided to withdraw the case against Mr Soorinje.
Soon after, the public prosecutor filed an application under Section 321 of the Criminal Procedure Code for withdrawal of prosecution against Mr. Soorinje before the 2nd Additional District and Sessions Court in the city. The judge sought objections of other accused on the application and adjourned the hearing for several dates. Meanwhile, the case was transferred from the 2nd Additional Court to the 6th Additional District and Sessions Court in February 2016.
As the accused failed to file their objections, the judge heard arguments of Mr. Soorinje’s counsel Dinesh Hegde Ullepady and of the prosecutor Judith O.M. Crasta on December 21, 2017. The judge discharged Mr. Soorinje from the case on January 4, 2018.
The kidnapped schoolboy was rescued by the police and reunited with his parents. Son of a gift shop owner from Basavanagudi area in Bengaluru, Chirag has reportedly told police that decided to make some quick money to spend on cricket betting and gambling after learning kidnap tricks from the ‘Crime Patrol’. According to police, Chirag reached a private school around 3pm on Tuesday on a Bounce rental bike and zeroed in on a fourth standard student who was walking out of school. He told the boy he was his father's friend and that he required help to search for a relative who had gone missing. The boy believed Chirag and rode pillion on the bike. Chirag then engaged the boy in conversation and learnt about his father's business and got his mobile phone number. He then made a call to the boy's father, demanded Rs 5 lakh and warned him against approaching cops. However, the boy's father alerted Cottonpet police and special teams were formed to crack the case. While Cottonpet inspector Venkatesh TC's squad verified CCTV footage in and around the school, Chamarajpet inspector BG Kumaraswamy's team started tracking the suspect's mobile phone movements. An hour later, the suspect's location was traced to a hotel on the Lavelle Road-St Mark's Road stretch. Police rushed there, rescued the boy and arrested Chirag.
Comments
Its always controvercial. Journalist should do thier duty or try to prevent such actions.
True.. Late but it's a great relief for him.
Those who tried to do a good thing also now crime partner. If they didnt do such things, police, court wont get any proofs
Poor man. HJV trapped him. If he didnt shot and expose the sexual harrasement, there were no proofs against HJV
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