Bengaluru, Karnataka High Court has granted interim relief to Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who is facing charges of violating the Model Code of Conduct during the Lok Sabha election campaign.
Justice Krishna S Dixit directed the authorities concerned to refrain from taking any further action against him till the next hearing on his plea challenging the FIR lodged against him.
The case was registered with the Election Commission of India on April 19 following a complaint by the BJP alleging that Shivakumar, who is also the state president of the Congress, had attempted to blackmail voters.
The BJP claimed that during an election speech in Rajarajeshwari Nagar, while campaigning for his brother and Lok Sabha candidate DK Suresh, Shivakumar had promised Cauvery water supply and occupancy certificates to voters in return for voting for the Congress.
Expressing objection, the Court questioned whether Shivakumar's comments would constitute an offense under sections 171B (bribery) and 171 (undue influence on elections) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).The judge stressed the need to look into the matter in depth and wanted to know whether Shivakumar's statements strictly met the parameters of the impugned sections.
However, the court asked Shivakumar's lawyer to advise his client to be more cautious in his speeches.
Additionally, it also raised concerns about the time given by the Election Commission to respond to the notice sent to Shivakumar.
Granting interim relief to Shivakumar, the Court expressed dismay at the falling standards of election speeches and said the quality, content and presentation have gone "abysmally low".
Justice Dixit commented that it was uncertain whether such standards could get worse.The court recorded the assurance of Shivakumar's lawyer that the Congress leader had been advised to exercise caution over his comments.
Justice Krishna S Dixit directed the authorities concerned to refrain from taking any further action against him till the next hearing on his plea challenging the FIR lodged against him.
The case was registered with the Election Commission of India on April 19 following a complaint by the BJP alleging that Shivakumar, who is also the state president of the Congress, had attempted to blackmail voters.
The BJP claimed that during an election speech in Rajarajeshwari Nagar, while campaigning for his brother and Lok Sabha candidate DK Suresh, Shivakumar had promised Cauvery water supply and occupancy certificates to voters in return for voting for the Congress.
Expressing objection, the Court questioned whether Shivakumar's comments would constitute an offense under sections 171B (bribery) and 171 (undue influence on elections) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).The judge stressed the need to look into the matter in depth and wanted to know whether Shivakumar's statements strictly met the parameters of the impugned sections.
However, the court asked Shivakumar's lawyer to advise his client to be more cautious in his speeches.
Additionally, it also raised concerns about the time given by the Election Commission to respond to the notice sent to Shivakumar.
Granting interim relief to Shivakumar, the Court expressed dismay at the falling standards of election speeches and said the quality, content and presentation have gone "abysmally low".
Justice Dixit commented that it was uncertain whether such standards could get worse.The court recorded the assurance of Shivakumar's lawyer that the Congress leader had been advised to exercise caution over his comments.