Cannot probe porngate, Soudha police tell Karnataka court

A city-based advocate is planning to sue Vidhana Soudha police for contempt of court because the police did not investigate the porngate incident despite the court’s directive.  

Dharmapal Gowda had filed a private complaint with the eighth additional metropolitan magistrate after the police refused to book a case against the three former ministers involved in the scandal.

The court had issued a notice to police inspector Lakshman Kumar, directing him to register the case and conduct investigation.

However, on Monday, the police submitted before the court that they did not have the authority to probe the case as it happened inside the assembly, which means only the speaker has the authority to investigate. Gowda objected to the police’s argument and submitted in the court that he would challenge it as it was a clear case of contempt of court.

Gowda told DNA that the court had asked the police to register and investigate the case under section 153 of Criminal Procedure Code, but the police did not even file the case, far less probe it. He alleged that the police were trying to evade their responsibilities and were neglecting the court’s directive.

The advocate further said that the accused former ministers had admitted that they had received the video clip from outside the assembly and thus the police could have investigated at least the transmission part of the case.

He said he would challenge the police’s submission during the next hearing on March 7. He said he would take up the case to Supreme Court, if need be. He said his intention was to bring a clear legislation regarding parliamentary immunity.

A few days ago, Vidhana Soudha police had shooed away a group of four who had gone there to file a complaint regarding the porngate.