Direction sought to act against BSP Leader

BANGALORE: The High Court on Tuesday issued notices to Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary of the Home Department, DG&IGP, city Police Commissioner, State BSP Chief Marasandra Muniyappa and others following a petition seeking directions to the Home Department to act on the complaints registered against Muniyappa. Veeranna and three others had filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) alleging that the police failed to act against Muniyappa though criminal cases were registered against him at five police stations in the city and others parts of the state.They have sought the Court to direct the Home Department to constitute a special team to investigate the cases. During the hearing, the petitioners stated that Muniyappa, under the umbrella of a political party, is maintaining a checkered history of criminal record by hiring people with muscle power. “On the pretext of caste, he is abusing the special enactment under SC&ST atrocities to implicate innocent, ignorant citizens including the government officials. It is shocking that despite criminal cases, the police have failed to take action,” they claimed.He is involved in attempt to murder and other cases. He had been arrested by the city police on a few occasions for taking law into hands, they contended.  Hearing the petition, a Division Bench comprising Vikramajit Sen and Justice B V Nagarathna, issued notices and said, “Let them say what they want to say,” before  adjourning the case for further hearing.