Ravi Belagere get himself admitted to Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences

Hubballi: Hai Bengaluru editor Ravi Belagere, who had managed a Houdini act, slipping out of SDM Hospital in Dharwad on Monday, resurfaced after a few hours on Tuesday.

The journalist has since got himself admitted to Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), here, with complaints of chest pain and diabetic fluctuations. He moved out of SDM Hospital on Monday, though police officials, who were guarding his ward, tried to arrest him. But they failed to detain Mr Belagere, who faces a one-year jail term awarded by the House Privileges Committee on charges of breach of privilege.

Mr Belagere stayed in an undisclosed location till late night on Monday and got himself admitted to KIMS, sending police officials into a tizzy. He has filed a petition before the HC challenging the order to imprison him.

Vidyagiri police in Hubballi registered a case against Belagere’s son Karan and three of his friends for allegedly trying to obstruct police in their duty. The police officials claimed that all the four helped Mr Belagere escape from SDM Hospital in Dharwad and prevented police officials from arresting him.

Meanwhile, Opposition leader Jagadish Shettar visited KIMS Hospital and enquired about Mr Belagere’s health. Shettar told the media that he has urged Speaker K.B. Koliwad to withdraw the jail term to the journalist. 

He also asked Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to intervene in 

the issue to ensure that the democratic system is going in the right direction.

“I condemn the Speaker’s move to imprison the journalist as he has not allowed thorough debate on the issue in the Assembly. Initially, the name of the editor was not available in the breach of privilege report presented to the House. The decision to award jail term hurried and only because a lone legislator raised Mr Belagere’s name during the Assembly proceedings,” Mr Shettar said. 

Journalists Ravi Belagere and Anil Raj, who have been sentenced to one-year imprisonment by the Legislative Assembly, moved the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday, requesting the court to quash the resolution passed by the Assembly and quash the report given by the Breach of Privilege Committee.

Representing the journalists, advocate Shankarappa V. filed the writ petition in the HC. It is likely to come up for hearing before a bench on Thursday. Mr Shankarappa told Deccan Chronicle that the petition requested the court to quash both the resolutions passed by the Assembly and the report given by the Breach of Privilege Committee.

The petition, which also sought a stay on the resolution as an interim relief, stated how the resolution passed by the Assembly is unconstitutional, illegal and is against the principle of natural justice. Also, how the resolution is in gross violation of Article 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution.

“Speaker of the Assembly, B. Koliwad, is also the Chairman of the Breach of Privilege Committee. Without giving an opportunity to my client Mr Belagere to justify himself, the committee has given the report recommending one year imprisonment and Rs 10,000 penalty. In Mr Anil Raj’s case, though he appeared before the committee and tendered unconditional apology, he has been convicted. We will submit before the court that the committee has given the report with a malafide intention,” Mr. Shankarappa said.

“Also, the said articles were written outside the House and it does not amount to contempt or defaming the House. Also, there is no provision to the Assembly to convict a person and impose imprisonment and penalty. This is like encroaching the powers of a court of law,” Mr Shankarappa said.

The petitioners have made Mr Koliwad and MLA S.R. Vishwanath as respondents.