Karnataka High Court To Hear Next Month Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Plea To Quash FIR Over Alleged Land Encroachment

The Karnataka High Court on Friday (January 23) said it will hear next month spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's plea challenging an FIR over alleged encroachment of public lands in Bengaluru.On January 13 the court had stayed the investigation against the petitioner. Earlier this week Special Public Prosecutor had submitted that though the petitioner is an accused, the affidavit to the petition is sworn to by a devotee of the Ashram, which on the face of it, cannot be countenanced. He had said that in a criminal proceeding of whatever nature it is, an accused cannot be represented by a power of attorney holder or a representative of the accused cannot depose to an affidavit, particularly in a proceeding under Article 226 and 482 of the Cr.P.C./528 of the BNS. The Special Public Prosecutor had opposed the extension of the interim order contending that this petition has to be dismissed, as it is defective. Meanwhile counsel for petitioner P. Prasanna Kumar said that the writ proceeding rules would permit such an action and said that corrective action would be taken if a day's time is granted. The court had thus granted time to the petitioner to cure the defect.During the hearing today, Justice M Nagaprasanna was informed that the defect had been cured. The court thereafter listed the matter on February 5 and continued the operation of the interim order. The spiritual guru has approached the high court seeking to quash the FIR registered against him by the Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force Police alleging offences punishable under Section 192A (Offences and Penalties) of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964. Among the various offences listed therein, one of them states that if a person unlawfully enters or occupies on any Government land with the intention of holding that Government land he shall be imprisoned for one year and fine of rupees five thousand.The registration of the crime was based on an order passed by the high court's division bench in a PIL alleging that the respondents therein had encroached upon the public lands to some extent and even constructed property on a Rajakaluve (storm water drain that connects lakes).The petitioner was added as respondent No.5 in the PIL along with other persons who have also been arrayed as accused in the crime.The Division Bench had in its order observed that the map indicated that certain constructions have been raised in Survey Nos.164/2, 163/3 and 161/7 and 160 of Kaggalipura Village, Uttarahalli Hobli, Bengaluru South Taluk.Additionally, a large part of Survey No.150, which is indicated to be a tank, has also been encroached. The division bench had in view of the Government's stance "that in fact there has been encroachment of public lands", disposed of the PIL by directing action to be taken against encroachers as is warranted, albeit, in accordance with law.Case Title: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar AND State of Karnataka & ANRCase No: WP 143/2026

Karnataka High Court To Hear Next Month Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Plea To Quash FIR Over Alleged Land Encroachment

Malavika Prasad

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