Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Oct 12: The state High Court, On Wednesday October 11, passed an order quashing the proceedings initiated in a subordinate court against union minster, D V Sadananda Gowda, relating to violation of election code of conduct.

The single judge bench of the high court presided over by Justice Aravind Kumar, which heard a writ petition filed by the minister seeking dismissal of the hearing going on in the case, passed an order as above. The case in question was filed in JMFC court Mangaluru.

Advocate for the petitioner, S Rajashekhar, contended that his client had never violated code of conduct as alleged. He pointed out that the complaint filed with the police and various sections of law mentioned by the police in the charge sheet do not match."The allegation was altogether different. But the police have unnecessarily added section 171 H of IPC in the charge sheet. This measure is against constitution. Therefore, the case deserves to be dismissed," he argued. The bench of the high court upheld his contention.

The special election officer had filed a complaint in Mangaluru rural police station, accusing Sadananda Gowda, who was engaged in campaigning for BJP candidate fielded in Dakshina Kannada constituency during Lok Sabha election held in 2014, of violating code of conduct on April 9 that year by participating in electioneering beyond the period permitted.