The Karnataka High Court on Thursday dismissed the case against BJP MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal, filed over his alleged derogatory remarks about Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The court’s decision followed deliberations on a plea by Yatnal, seeking to quash the FIR registered in September based on a complaint by State Congress member S. Manohar.
The case stemmed from Yatnal’s public speech, where he accused Gandhi of making anti-national statements during a visit to the U.S. and called for an investigation into Gandhi’s caste, saying, “He doesn’t know if he was born to Muslims or Christians.”
Justice M. Nagaprasanna, hearing the quashing plea, considered arguments by Senior Advocate Venkatesh Dalwai, who contended that Yatnal’s remarks were a reaction to Gandhi’s statements abroad. Dalwai further argued that Yatnal’s reference to Sonia Gandhi’s Christian origin did not constitute promoting enmity under the law.
Yatnal was booked under Sections 192, 196, and 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for charges including provoking with intent to cause a riot, promoting enmity, and spreading false information.
Additionally, the court had earlier expressed disapproval of Yatnal’s comments calling State Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao “half-Pakistani,” a reference to the religion of Rao’s wife. Despite these controversies, the court found the current charges against Yatnal insufficient to sustain legal action.
