Two Journalists Get Jail Term After Karnataka Assembly Unanimously Resolve To Punish Them

Karnataka Assembly Speaker KB Koliwad has reportedly sentenced two journalists to one-year imprisonment, with a fine of Rs 10,000, after the Assembly passed a unanimous resolution to punish them for writing defamatory articles against legislators.

"The State Assembly has decided to punish the two journalists of Kannada tabloids for publishing defamatory articles against legislators," the Speaker announced on the floor of the House.

"I approve the recommendation of the privilege committee, which has recommended a year's imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10,000 on Hi Bangalore and Yelahanka Voice editors," he added.

The journalists - Ravi Belagere of Hi Bangalore and Anil Raj, who ran a tabloid called Yelahanka Voice - were punished on the recommendation of the House Privileges Committee after an inquiry.

The committee found that legislators' privileges were violated after a series of defamatory articles against them.