[Lord Shiva Statue in Begur Lake] Karnataka High Court directs Deputy Commissioner of Police to supervise probe, submit report in sealed cover

The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police (South East division, Koramangala) to supervise the investigation and submit a report after a statue of Lord Shiva was unveiled in Begur lake in violation of High Court's stay order..An order to that effect was passed by Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice BV Nagarathna directing that a report be filed in sealed cover by September 2."Respondent 9 relies on memo dated August 16, Additional Government Advocate (AGA) states that action already taken based on the complaints received. We direct the AGA to supply copy of the memo and annexures to the police officer who investigating the CR no.... (case). We direct the Deputy Commissioner, South east Division, Koramangala, to supervise investigation in connection with CR no.....and submit report to this court containing the details of investigation report by August 31. The report shall be submitted in a sealed cover on or before September 2," the order said. .Court orders defied in broad daylight: Karnataka High Court expresses shock after Lord Shiva statue unveiled in Begur Lake despite stay order.Last week, the Court had expressed shock after a statue of Lord Shiva was unveiled in an artificially constructed island in Begur lake in violation of Court's stay order.On August 30, 2019, the Court had stayed the construction of the statue on the lake island, by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).The Court was informed of the construction of the statute by way of a memo filed by Citizens Action Group, which said that on July 31, 2021, a video was published on the Facebook page of one Puneeth Kerehalli with the caption "Hindus Beware Of The Christian Missionary Conspiracy To Remove Shiva Statue – Hindu Organisations Must Come Together".In the video, Kerehalli was seen pointing to the statue of Shiva stating that he has brought Hindu workers to the location to fight against the interruption against the installation of Shiva statue on Begur lake.The memo alleged that as per the video, if anyone came in the way of the inauguration of the statute or attempts to remove it or change its location, it will be met with violence.A Division Bench of Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice M Nagaprasanna had observed that orders of the Court were flouted openly in daylight."Openly in daylight, orders of the court are defied," the Bench had said.The Court had then proceeded to direct the Police Commissioner of Bengaluru to personally look into the matter and initiate action as per law.The Court had also directed the State government to file a report of compliance about the action taken by the commissioner of police, as well as action taken of posting requisite police force around the Begur lake..When the matter was taken up for hearing on Wednesday, the Court questioned the State government on the action taken by the police in the issue. In response, the counsel appearing for the State government apprised that the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) had submitted a report as per which the lake area is 5 acres and that police personnel have been deployed there to monitor the issue. .The Court then said, "If they (miscreants) have done it (unveiling Shiva Statue) after BBMP covered statue, then they have taken law into own hands. Let commissioner of police look into this also."A First Information Report (FIR) had already been registered on August 16 on the basis of complaints received on August 13 and 15. .Adding on, the counsel who submitted the memo said, "A local MP went with police to the location and said not to hurt sentiments of the people.."However, the Court, in response said,"This is a part of the investigation. We will monitor the investigation. Police also knows what will happen when Court is monitoring.".The matter will be next heard on September 2.

[Lord Shiva Statue in Begur Lake] Karnataka High Court directs Deputy Commissioner of Police to supervise probe, submit report in sealed cover

Rintu Mariam Biju

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