K'taka HC exempts personal appearance of Minister

Bangalore, Aug 30 (UNI) The Karnataka High Court today exempted State Home Minister M P Prakash from appearing in person before the Magistrate court in Bellary in connection with a defamation case, but directed him to seek bail from the lower court.

Granting an interim injunction of three months, Mr Justice A C Kabbin of the Karnataka High Court admitted a petition filed by Mr Prakash, challenging the legality and maintainability of the defamation case filed by suspended BJP MLC Janardhana Reddy of Bellary in the court of First Additional JMFC, Bellary, and issued notices to the respondent.

Mr Reddy had alleged that the Minister, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and Forests Minister C Chennigappa had issued statements defamatory in nature in connection with the Rs 150 crore bribery issue and therefore were guilty under section 500 of the India Penal Code. The statements were made with the intention of tarnishing his image, he submitted.

The JMFC had taken the complaint on file and issued summons to the three to personally appear before the court on September seven.

In his petition, Mr Prakash contended that the allegations were not true and his statements were not defamatory. The Magistrate could not issue summons to him as the complaint did not comply with the requirements of law. Besides, he had to go abroad for a forthight and hence would not be able to be present in court.

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