Why haven’t you filed FIR against MLA, court asks police

The Hindu: Bangalore: Friday, 25 July 2014.

Pulling up the police for not registering a criminal case even after the receipt of a complaint, the High Court of Karnataka on Wednesday asked the city police whether they would register a first information report (FIR) against S.R. Vishwanath, Yelahanka MLA The complaint stated that the MLA drew remuneration from the State and Union governments simultaneously.

Justice Ram Mohan Reddy, who summoned the jurisdictional police, sought to know why an FIR was not registered even after receipt of the complaint against the MLA.

However, the police told the court that they did not register the FIR as the Directorate of Prosecution gave a legal opinion stating that the FIR could not be registered as the alleged crime was more than six years old.

However, the court was not satisfied with the reason cited by the police and wanted to know whether they would be registering the FIR. “Either you register the FIR or face consequences,” he observed orally.

The court was hearing a petition filed by social activist V. Shashidhar, a resident of Yelahanka.

The court had issued notice to the police in November last year.

Based on the information obtained under the RTI Act, the petitioner alleged that Mr. Vishwanath was working as a mechanic (Grade A) with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) and was alsoa member of the Bangalore Urban Zilla Panchayat between 2000 and 2005.

Claiming that there the Service Rules of HAL barred employees from contesting an election to a local body and becoming a member, the petitioner alleged that Mr. Vishwanath drew salary from HAL and honorarium from the zilla panchayat between 2002 and 2005.

Hearing adjourned:

The court has adjourned further hearing till Friday awaiting the response from the police.

Later, hearing a case pertaining to the actions of the J.C. Nagar police, the judge orally observed that the police were doing “all other things except registering FIR”.

They [police] are also interfering in civil matters. These police stations have become compromise centres. Settlements are done there.” the judge observed.