Karnataka High Court Stays FIR Against Engineering Student Accused Of Throwing Eggs At BJP MLA
The Karnataka High Court on Friday [August 14] granted an interim stay on further investigation and proceedings against an engineering student implicated in connection with the recent clashes related to NEET protests outside the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) office in Bengaluru.
The FIR was registered on July 22 at the Shivajinagar Police Station following a complaint lodged by BJP MLA B.P. Harish, representing Harihar constituency.
The complaint alleged that during an altercation outside the KPCC office, unknown miscreants targeted the BJP leader and other party workers by hurling eggs and wielding rods at them and their transport buses. The clash occurred during a counter-protest organized by the BJP in response to a Congress agitation, which was part of the larger NEET protests.
The FIR was initially registered against unknown persons for offences punishable under Sections 115(2), 118(1), 126(2), and 190 BNS.
The single judge bench of Justice M. Nagaprasanna, found prima facie merit in the submissions of the petitioner, Punya C. Naik, a 22-year-old engineering student implicated in the crime.
Appearing for the petitioner, advocates Shathabish Shivanna, Rithvik Balanagraj B, and Milton Herburt M M submitted before the bench that the 22-year-old engineering student was not involved in any overt act and had merely arrived to peacefully protest against alleged police brutality at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.
The counsel submitted that on the same day, the opposition party [BJP] had simultaneously arranged a protest march from Cantonment Station to the KPCC office. The counsels for the petitioner argued that under political pressure, the police had 'randomly picked up students readily available on street' and implicated them in the FIR.
“…The petitioner is a 22-year-old engineering student who has been made a scapegoat for a political slugfest”, the counsel submitted.
The counsel for the petitioner submitted that there appeared to be no specific overt act attributed to the petitioner that would justify his inclusion in the FIR. The student argued there was no evidence to suggest his involvement in the egg-throwing incident or the alleged assault on the BJP MLA.
He argued that the Leader of the Opposition had met the Commissioner of Police and insisted on the registration of the FIR and detention of persons, succumbing to which the police had randomly picked up the petitioner-student from the streets.
The Court took note of these submissions while granting the interim stay on all further investigation in Crime No. 161/2026 pending before the 10th Additional CMM Court, Mayohall, Bengaluru City.
Case Title: Punya C. Naik v. State of Karnataka & Anr.
Case No.: Criminal Petition No.11460/2026
Appearance: Shathabish Shivanna, Rithvik Balanagraj B, and Milton Herburt M M for Petitioner