BENGALURU: Questioning how police officers could function if lawmakers (MLAs) go and sit in police stations, the Karnataka High Court orally observed that if such conduct is allowed, then police will not be in a position to discharge their duties. Justice Krishna S Dixit emphasized the need to protect the police to ensure citizen safety, stating that no citizen would be safe if MLAs intervened in police stations regarding criminal cases.
This observation came during a series of questions posed to the advocate representing Belthangady MLA Harish Poonja. Poonja’s petition questioned the criminal case registered against him for allegedly obstructing police duties in a case involving Belthangady taluk BJP Yuva Morcha president Shahiraj Shetty.
The court raised concerns about the appropriateness of an MLA visiting a police station over a criminal case, with Justice Dixit stressing that such actions undermine police authority. Senior advocate Prabhuling K Navadgi, representing Poonja, argued that the MLA responded to a call from Shetty’s wife, who claimed her husband was taken by police late at night without explanation.
The court rejected this argument, highlighting legal remedies for illegal arrests or police excesses. Additional Public Prosecutor BN Jagadeesha noted that a chargesheet had been filed against Poonja and that the taluk court had taken cognizance of the offenses. The hearing was adjourned, with the police instructed to file objections.
Poonja moved the High Court after being booked for allegedly deterring police from their duties and creating a ruckus in the police station on May 18.