Karnataka High Court stays FIR against BJP Minister Shobha Karandlaje

The Karnataka High Court on Friday stayed proceedings in a case registered against Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Shobha Karandlaje in connection with remarks made linking the March 1 bomb blast at Rameshwaram Café to persons from Tamil Nadu [Shobha Karandlaje v. State of Karnataka]..Justice Krishna S Dixit passed the interim order on a plea by Karandlaje to quash the first information report (FIR) registered in the matter by the Cottenpet Police Station.“Stay as prayed for, till next date of hearing,” stated the order passed on March 22, a day after the case was registered on March 21. .The case was filed in the wake of remarks reportedly made by Karandlaje during a protest march held by the BJP on March 19, Tuesday following an assault of a shopkeeper by six men at Nagarthpete.Karandlaje, who is standing as the BJP candidate from Bangalore North in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, is reported have said: “People who come from Tamil Nadu plant bombs here, people coming from Delhi chant Pakistan Zindabad slogans. People coming from Kerala throw acid on women.”.The remarks were quick to draw controversy and Karandlaje issued a note on X (formerly Twitter) the same day to withdraw her statements."To my Tamil brothers & sisters, I wish to clarify that my words were meant to shine light, not cast shadows. Yet I see that my remarks brought pain to some - and for that, I apologize. My remarks were solely directed towards those trained in the Krishnagiri forest, linked to the Rameshwaram Cafe blast. To anyone from Tamilnadu effected, From the depths of my heart, I ask your forgiveness. Furthermore, I retract my previous comments (sic)," her statement on X said. .Meanwhile, Karandlaje's comments were condemned by Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader, MK Stalin. The organising secretary of the DMK, RS Bharathi filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) a day later, on March 20, following which the ECI directed the Chief Election Commissioner of Karnataka to take appropriate action under the Model Code of Conduct.This led the District Election Officer at Bengaluru to file an FIR against Karandlaje under Sections 123 (3A) [promotion of feelings of enmity or hatred between different classes on grounds of religion, race, caste, community, language, etc.], 125 [promoting enmity between classes] and 123 (3) [appeal by candidate for votes on ground of religion, race, caste, community etc.] of the Representation of Peoples Act..These proceedings have now been stayed by the High Court until the next date of hearing on Karandlaje’s petition.Advocate Dalwai Venkatesh represented Karandlaje before the High Court..[Read Order]