Karnataka HC Dismisses PIL Seeking Names Of Accused Arrested In Bengaluru Riots Case Be Put Up On Website

A division bench of Chief Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Ashok S Kinagi while refusing to entertain the petition filed by Khaleel Ahmed H M who claimed to be working for deprived sections of the society, said "This is disastorous seeking the direction of the writ court to publish names of accused on website. It will go viral on social media. Are you in the interest of the accused or against them."

Advocate Syed Ahmed appearing for the petitioner relied on section 41 (C) of CrPC, for seeking the prayer. However, the bench said "Section 41 operates in a totally different area." In its order it said "If we grant prayer clause 1 of the petition, it will amount to giving wide publicity to the names of the persons who are shown as accused or who are arrested in connection to the offence. Once the names are published on the official website of the city police the names will go viral. Which may offend the right of privacy of the accused."

On August 11, a mob of around 300 people gathered near D.J. Halli Police Station, protesting against an allegedly derogatory comment on Prophet Mohammed, posted by one P. Naveen on his Facebook page.

The mob then is alleged to have set fire to police vehicles and attacked police personnel of D.J. Halli and K.G. Halli Police Stations, by throwing stones at the building and attacking them with deadly weapons. A total of 64 criminal cases have been registered so far and investigation is under process, over 300 perople have been arrested.