Bengaluru: There’s more trouble brewing for Gujarat Independent MLA Jignesh Mevani and actor Prakash Raj after the Chikkamagaluru police on Thursday registered criminal case - Crime No. 127/18 – under Sections 143, 147, 341 and 188 r/w 149 of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 37 & 109 of Karnataka Police Act against the two and 13 others for unlawful assembly, rioting and contravening rules.
Mevani from his twitter handle @jigneshmevani80 on Thursday had tweeted - “One more childish attempt to silence our voice. Me and @prakashraaj nt allowed to speak at Chittamanglore for reasons best known to saffronized police of Karnataka. Fact that they can’t ignore us indicates that BJP is scared of citizens who raise real concrete issue like jobs.”
According to police one person by the name of Ghouse Mohiddin on April 27 had filed an online request with the police for permission for organizing a cultural event – ‘Save the Constitution’ to be held at Kuvempu Kala Mandira on May 3. Accordingly the Assistant Director, Depart ment of Kannada & Culture, Chikkamagaluru had given an acknowledgment stating that he has to approach Deputy Commi ssioner & District Election Officer, Chikkamagaluru to obtain permission as this function was political in nature and the model code of conduct was in force.
Later, the Assistant Director, Department of Kannada & Culture, Chikka magaluru, after taking the opinion of General Observer, Chikkamagaluru Assembly Constituency and Deputy Commissioner & District Election Officer, Chikka magaluru revoked the permission on May 2, stating that he had not submitted the permission letter obtained from DC & DEO, Chikkamagaluru. Despite being denied permission the function was conducted today at Andechatra, Chikka magaluru between 3.45 pm and 6.30 pm and a gathering of about 200 participated.
The flying squad Officer of Chikkamagaluru Assembly Constituency Tusharamani had lodged a complaint in Chikkamaga luru Town Police Station stating the above progra mme was conducted in a public place causing inconvenience to the general public.
Based on the complaint, a case was registered at Chikkamagaluru Town Police Station against Ghouse Mohiddin, Ghouse Muneer, K.L.Ashok, Prakash Rai, Jignesh Mevani, Yousuf Haji, Kalkuli Vital Hegde, Putta swamy, Krishna murthy, Mahesh, Umesh, Chandre gowda, Paramesh, Irshad Ahmed, Shiv and others. Taking strong objection to Mevani’s tweet the Superintendent of police, Chikkamagaluru said that the police had no role in denying permission to the organizers. “We are duty bound to provide protection as and when called by other officials, who are implementing the model code of conduct.
This tweet by Jignesh Mevani is highly condemnable calling into question the professionalism of Chikkamagaluru Police/ Karnataka Police. I only wish he is more mature when making statements in the future,” said the officer. The BJP had recently lodged a complaint with the Election Commission against Mevani and Raj for using derogatory words for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
