14 Sep 2023 3:32 PM GMT
TV news anchor Sudhir Chaudhary and Hindi news channel Aaj Tak have approached the Karnataka High Court seeking to quash the First Information Report filed against them for the offences under Sections 153A and 505 of the India Penal Code over a news report.
A single judge bench of Justice Hemant Chandangoudar is to hear the matter on Friday. The plea by way of interim relief has sought stay on further investigation in the FIR.
The FIR said that on September 11 in a news programme, Chaudhary claimed that the Karnataka government was providing the scheme only to the minorities and not to the non-minority Hindus and that it is practicing minority appeasement in the state. Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge refuted the report in social media and said that scheme was started by the previous government.
The comments in the report was regarding the ‘Svalambi Sarathi Scheme' of the Karnataka State Minorities Development Corporation Ltd whereby subsidy is given to religious minorities for purchase of vehicles.
The FIR is lodged on a complaint filed by the Administrative Officer of the Karnataka State Minorities Development Corporation Ltd.
"Despite being fully aware of the statements he is making, by publishing such news, he is hatching a conspiracy to disturb communal harmony in the state," the complainant alleged.