Minister Sudhakar granted bail in defamation case

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Kar nataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar, who is facing a defamation case, has been granted bail by the 42nd Additional Metropolitan Magistrate Court in the city.

The case was filed by R Anjaneya Reddy, president of the Permanent Irrigation Agitation Committee in Chikkaballapura district, after the legislator allegedly called Reddy a person who had been imprisoned for the sale of hooch to farmers, in November. Sudhakar had been made chairperson of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) during the Congress-JD(S) coalition government tenure.

Reddy had challenged the appointment in court, questioning Sudhakar’s eligibility to hold the post and the criteria used for the selection of the MLA. In reaction, the minister said that Reddy was the person who had been imprisoned for selling hooch to farmers.

Demanding an apology from the minister, Reddy had filed a defamation case in court against Sudhakar for the statement. As the Supreme Court has opined that a defamation case could be considered a criminal case, Reddy had filed a criminal case against the minister.

The Special Court later ordered the registration of the case and summoned Sudhakar in this connection. Sudhakar appeared before the court on Tuesday, during which the court granted bail to the minister on a bond and surety of Rs 1 lakh and Rs 25,000 in cash. The court also asked the minister to appear for the next hearing on December 9.