HC stays case against KS Eshwarappa

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: The High Court has granted an interim stay to the case filed against former minister KS Eshwarappa in the wake of his alleged statement that 'We do not want the votes of Muslims'.

The petition by Eshwarappa seeking quashing of the case was heard by a single-judge bench headed by Justice M Nagaprasanna on Friday.

After hearing the arguments of counsel for the petitioner Vinod Kumar, the bench granted an interim stay to the case and adjourned the hearing to 15 December.

Eshwarappa, who spoke at a Veerashaiva Lingayatcommunity meeting held on April 25, 2023 at the premises of former Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa's Shimoga residence during the assembly elections, reportedly said, "There are 50 to 55 thousand Muslim voters in Shivamogga. But we don't want a single Muslim vote."

Based on this, an FIR was registered on May 8. The hearing of the case was scheduled for December 2. The petition claimed that the FIR was filed on a report on a private news agency X (Twitter) account and there was no evidence in the case.