Karnataka High Court stays case against student booked for throwing eggs at BJP MLA amid protest

The Karnataka High Court on Friday stayed criminal proceedings against an engineering student booked in a criminal case on allegations that he was among those who threw eggs at Bharitiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA BP Harish amid NEET-related protests.

Justice M Nagaprasanna passed the interim order staying further proceedings in the criminal case filed against the student.

The incident occured outside the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) office in Bengaluru last month.

Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) BP Harish had arrived at the site to attend a protest organised by the BJP to oppose the demonstration led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Delhi outside Prime Minister Modi's residence over national exam paper leaks.

However, unknown to Harish, the remaining BJP leaders who had planned to participate in the protest were reportedly detained by the police en route, leaving him alone outside the KPCC office where Congress workers were waiting to rally against the BJP.

As Harish was being escorted away by the police, eggs were hurled at him.

Nine persons were booked in the criminal case registered consequently on the BJP leader's complaint, including an engineering student named Punya C Naik.

The case cites the offences under Sections 115(2) (hurt), 118(1) (hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 126(2) (wrongful restraint), and 190 (unlawful assembly) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS).

Naik eventually moved the High Court with a plea to quash the criminal case.

His counsel contended that the case was filed under political pressure and that Naik was picked up at random from the street among other students who were rounded up by the police.

Advocate Shathabish Shivanna maintained that the student had only arrived at the site to peacefully protest against the alleged police brutality that took place in Delhi's Jantar Mantar amid student protests about NEET/ exam paper leaks. He asserted that the student had not attacked anyone.

After considering these preliminary submissions, the Court sought the State's response and granted the student interim relief by staying criminal proceedings against him.

Advocates Rithvik Balanagraj B and Milton Herburt MM also appeared for the student.