Karnataka High Court stays investigation against Bidadi farmers who protested with brooms opposing survey
The Karnataka High Court has stayed an investigation into six farmers accused of attempted murder during a protest against a land acquisition project in Bidadi. The court expressed suspicion regarding the case, noting that the complaint was filed by a private driver rather than the officials allegedly assaulted.
Why it matters
This case highlights the ongoing tensions between land acquisition for urban development and the rights of ancestral landowners, while raising questions about the potential misuse of criminal charges to suppress protests.
The High Court of Karnataka on Monday stayed all further investigation into a criminal case registered against six farmers on the allegation of attempt to murder for protesting with brooms and preventing officials of a government survey team from entering their agricultural lands for the contentious Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township Project in Bidadi.
Justice M. Nagaprasanna passed the interim order on the petition filed by H.R. Nagaraja and others.
Noticing that the complaint was lodged by a driver of a privately rented car, which was hired by the officials, and not by any of the officials who were assaulted when they went for the survey, the court said, “The very registration of the crime is shrouded with suspicion.”
The police had registered the case under Sections 109(1) (attempt to murder) and 74 (assault or criminal force against a woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
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