According to reports, Bommai accused Waqf officials of invading religious and agricultural lands.
Two hate speech cases against former Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Basavaraj Bommai were dismissed by the Karnataka High Court on Friday. Bommai was charged with inciting religious animosity by accusing Waqf authorities of encroaching on their land [Basavaraj Bommai v. State of Karnataka].
The BJP reportedly made the accused remarks at a protest gathering in November 2024 to denounce the Waqf Board and the Congress-led State government for illegally seizing temple and farmer holdings.
Bommai is credited for saying, among other things, that "if a stone is thrown in Savanur, wherever it falls, it is waqf land."
He was charged under Section 196(1)(a) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS), which deals with inciting animosity amongst groups. Bommai contested this in two petitions, arguing that the criminal allegations were baseless and retaliatory.
Today, Justice SR Krishna Kumar dismissed two cases based on these remarks and granted both petitions.
"In light of the vague, bald, omnibus, laconic allegations made in the impugned complaint.. coupled with principles stated by the apex court and this court.. I am of the view that the continuation of the impugned proceedings .. would amount to abuse of process of law.. allowed, quashed," the Supreme Court stated.
The Court further stated that Basavaraj alone would be subject to its decision, not any of the other defendants in the case.
Senior Advocate Prabhuling Navadgi represented Bommai. Advocate Shivaparasad Shantanagoudar filed the petitions.
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