K'taka HC quashes case against Narayanamurthy

Bangalore, Aug 14: Karnataka High Court today quashed case against Infosys Chief Mentor Narayanamurthy of 'dishonouring National Anthem'. Justice K Bhakthavatsala, allowing a criminal petition by Mr Narayanamurthy seeking quashing proceedings initiated against him before the Second Additional Chief Metropolitan Court, Bangalore, which took cognance of a complaint filed by Kannada Rakshana Vakilara Vedike, quashed the case stating that he (Mr Narayanamurthy) has not committed any violation of the act and nowhere playing National Anthem through instrument was offensive.

The complainant alleged that the petitioner Naraynamurthy had committed violence under section 3 of the Prevention of Insult to National Honour Act on the ground that he prevented singing of National Anthem and merely allowed National Anthem to be played on instruments during former President A P J Kalam's visit to Infosys Mysore Campus on April 8.

The petitioner also contended that the magistrate had no jurisdiction in taking cognisance and issuing summons. Moreover an instrumental version of the National Anthem had been played on the occasion.

UNI