Bengaluru
The Karnataka High Court has quashed a case registered against Horticulture Minister SS Mallikarjuna and others for allegedly violating the Wildlife Protection Act for allegedly illegally nurturing wildlife in a farmhouse.
A bench headed by Justice M Nagaprasanna passed the order while hearing a batch of petitions filed by SS Mallikarjuna’s brother SS Ganesh and Sampanna Muthalik and GM Karibasappa. Also, Forest officials and Police officials have violated the provisions of the Wildlife Crime Act in registering the case. It also failed to order an inquiry into the matter by obtaining cognizance from the magistrate’s court on the basis of a complaint by the forest officials. The bench said it was disturbing that the Davanagere Magistrate’s Court had taken cognizance against the petitioners in connection with the case.
In addition, the entire process has been turned upside down by investigators. There have been irreparable errors in the case. Therefore, granting permission to prosecute the case would amount to misuse of the process of law, the bench said in its order.
In December 2022, the CCB Police had seized deer skin from one Senthil and registered a case. When the Police searched the spot where the accused Senthil had brought the deer skin, they searched Mallikarjun’s farmhouse and rescued 10 blackbucks, seven spotted deer, seven wild boars, three mongooses and two jackals.He had alleged that the Wildlife Protection Act was violated by rearing wild animals, including blackbucks, spotted deer, etc. at his farmhouse in Davanagere. Forest department officials and police officials had also registered a case against the accused for alleged violation of the Wildlife Protection Act. The petitioners had approached the High Court challenging the move. The Court has now quashed the case.
