Bengaluru: Mahesh Vikram Hegde, co-founder and editor of Postcard News, was released on interim bail from Dharwad prison on April 13. He was arrested by Bengaluru’s crime branch on charges of spreading fake news and communally provocative content.
Hegde, who was arrested on March 29, was released on interim bail after strong arguments by his attorneys.
The news was confirmed by BJP MP Pratap Simha in a tweet dated the same day saying: “After 17 days of ordeal, @mvmeet is free now! Thanks to @tejasvi_surya Senior Advocate Ashok Harnalli, @shakkuiyer akka, Sandeep, Gajlee Sukhesh, Sandeep Ravi n all wel wishers.”
Hedge’s supporters have opined that the editor was arrested for political reasons and the move was made to “detain and harass him”.
A photo of a Jain monk Upadhyaya Mayank Sagar Ji Maharaj, who was injured in a road accident, was uploaded on Hegde’s twitter page as well as Postcard News’ twitter page with the caption: “Very sad news. In Karnataka Jain muni attacked by muslim youth…. No one is safe in Siddaramaiah’s Karnataka.”
The photo originated from an online Jain news portal, Ahimsa Kranti, where the monk’s photo can be found with a caption stating that he had been injured in an accident.
This led to Hegde’s initial arrest and was imprisoned in Parappana Agrahara, whence he was released on bail. He was arrested once more by the Karwar police in connection with another case, prompting his supporters to claim that the state government was “hell bent to see him behind bars”.
Hegde was granted interim bail by the Uttar Kannada district and sessions court after which he was released on April 13.
His next hearing in connection with the CCB’s case will be on April 25 as per the Karnataka high court’s notice.
