Karnataka BJP MLA Mahesh Tenginakai on Wednesday accused the State Home Minister G. Parameshwara and the Congress government of lying regarding the withdrawal of cases against 155 individuals involved in the Hubballi police station rioting case.
He raised the allegation on the floor of the Assembly while making a statement under Rule 69.
“Regarding the withdrawal of the Hubballi riots case, Home Minister Parameshwara had responded during the Winter Session. The State Home Minister said that on June 13, 2023, the Director of Prosecutions, Government Litigations, and the Department of Law had given their opinion in favour of withdrawing the cases. However, after checking with the concerned authorities, they clearly told me that they had not given any such opinion,” the BJP leader alleged.
“Who is lying here? Is it the Department of Prosecution, or is it the Home Minister? If any case is to be withdrawn, all legal procedures must be completed. The concerned department is saying they have not given an opinion at all. How was this matter even taken up in the Cabinet?” Tenginakai asked.
Speaking about the incident, the BJP leader said, “On April 16, 2022, at 9:30 p.m., enraged by a WhatsApp status, thousands from the minority community laid siege to the Hubballi police station. They attacked the police. An FIR was filed, and 155 individuals were arrested. I want to highlight some details mentioned in the FIR.”
“The rioting began at 9:30 p.m. and continued until 12:30 a.m. The FIR states that an attempt was made to gather people by saying, ‘Har ek ko apna kaam nibhana hai, ye sirf Anjuman walon ka kaam nahin hai. Har mujahid ka kaam hai. Agar hum hakikat mein imaan wala banna hai to iss ka muh tod jawab dena hai.'”
“They even provoked people by questioning whether they would wake up only after the demolition of the Hubballi mosque and Baba Dargah. The accused, Wasim Akram Pathan, a Moulvi, had started the NGO Tanzim-E-Ashrafia and also ran a tours and travels company. He had also visited Pakistan and Bangladesh. During his visit to Karachi, he went to the headquarters of Dawat-e-Islami and received training in organising people,” the BJP leader said, quoting the FIR in the Assembly.
“The riots were severe, and policemen could have been killed. Many police officers were hospitalised. The rioters damaged the Police Commissioner’s car, pelted stones at the police station, and attempted to set it on fire. They even tried to torch temples in the vicinity. The then government arrested 155 individuals,” he added.
After the investigation, the case was handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), he said.
However, the Congress government made a controversial decision to withdraw the cases.
“When Home Minister G. Parameshwara visited Hubballi, I questioned him about this. He just smiled and remained silent. Before the elections, Congress leaders in Hubballi had publicly said that they would withdraw the cases if their party came to power,” Tenginakai alleged.
“Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar wrote a letter to Home Minister Parameshwara requesting the withdrawal of cases. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also made a statement on the matter, saying that the cases would not be withdrawn. Even Parameshwara initially said that just because Shivakumar wrote a letter, the cases would not be withdrawn,” the BJP leader said.
“When the process of withdrawing the cases began, I had sought official information in the last session. I was informed that the Director of Prosecutions, Government Litigations, and the Legal Department had given their opinion. Later, the Cabinet Subcommittee cleared the matter, and the DGP also gave his opinion in favour of withdrawing the cases,” he added.
“On July 10, 2024, the Cabinet decided to withdraw the cases. On July 15, 2024, a government order was issued in this regard. I had specifically asked what the procedure was for withdrawing any case. This is a scheduled offence. We have no objections if cases against farmers or Dalits are withdrawn. However, I was given the answer that the opinion of the State Police Chief, the Director of Prosecution and Government Litigations are considered,” he said.
“The government further claimed that the opinion was also collected from the Legal Department and the Cabinet Subcommittee would verify it, and based on their recommendation under CrPC 321, it would be presented before the Cabinet. Only the cases approved by the Cabinet would then be presented before the court for withdrawal,” Tenginakai added.
He criticised the move of the Congress government, saying, “After the withdrawal of cases related to the Hubballi police station riot, an attack took place on the Udayagiri police station in Mysuru. The rioters believe they will be freed. Which police officer will dare to arrest rioters now? The police may think it is not worth taking the risk. What will be the situation in the state? Why is the government so concerned about releasing these criminals? The government should reconsider its decision to withdraw these cases.”
State Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil said Home Minister Parameshwara will give answers on the issues raised by the BJP members.
