The Karnataka cabinet held on May 21, 2026 decided to withdraw 52 cases registered in various police stations across the state
BENGALURU
The High Court has stayed the order issued by the state government to withdraw 52 serious criminal cases registered in various police stations in the state.
A bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice KS Hemalekha, which was hearing a public interest litigation filed by Bengaluru-based lawyer Girish Bhardwaj, stayed the government’s order. It issued a notice to the state government to file objections in the case and adjourned the hearing.
During the hearing, the counsel for the petitioner explained to the bench that the prosecution has withdrawn the cases registered in various police stations of the state on the recommendation of three senior ministers. The government has taken a decision contrary to the order issued by the same court in 2025 in this regard. Therefore, the government’s decision should be stayed.
The government’s counsel said that if given some time, they would file objections to the application. At this time, the bench said that the government would be given time to file objections. They said that the government’s order would be stayed. It also issued notices to the Home Department and the Prosecution and Government Litigation Department and adjourned the hearing to September 28.
The bench, which refused to issue a notice to Health Minister UT Khader, the third respondent in the petition, said that statements made by MLAs in the House are exempted and therefore, he cannot be made a respondent.
The State Cabinet meeting held on May 21, had approved the proposal to withdraw 52 cases. Accordingly, on May 27, the Home Department had issued an order directing the government prosecutor to withdraw the cases. The petitioners have requested that this order and the decision of the Cabinet be quashed.
Also, the then Assembly Speaker UT Khader had written a letter to the Home Minister, describing the accused in the serious cases related to communal riots, unlawful assembly, damage to public property, attempt to murder and hijab protest that took place in the Aland police station limits of Kalaburagi district as ‘not criminals’.
Khader had made this recommendation on the request of the Dargah Hazrat Ladle Mashekh Ansari Committee. The petition explained that through this, political influence was exerted on the executive and the criminal justice system was interfered with.
