Bangalore: Relief for Naveen Soorinje - state govt decides to revoke charges
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Jan 31: In a huge relief to journalist Naveen Soorinje who had been arrested in the home stay attack case, the government has decided to revoke all cases against him.
The decision was taken at a state cabinet meeting held on Thursday January 31.
Soorinje has been lodged in Mangalore jail since his arrest on November 7 in a flash operation by the Kankanady police.
Naveen Soorinje had been arrested for recording the July 28, 2012 home stay attack on video for his channel and broadcasting it.
He was booked on the same charges as the rest of the accused in the home stay attack. The high court had denied him bail.
The cabinet's decision was announced by law minister Suresh Kumar at Vidhana Soudha here.
"The cabinet has decided to drop all charges against Soorinje," Suresh Kumar told reporters.
It may be recalled that earlier this month, home minister R Ashok had promised to drop charges against Soorinje after journalists in Bangalore had gone on a hunger strike demanding his release.
With this, Soorinje is expected to be released from jail soon.
A group of Hindu Jagarana Vedike activists had assaulted a group of boys and girls at a home stay at Padil in Mangalore on July 28, 2012. Soorinje and a TV cameraman were among the 44 accused in the case. Including Soorinje and the cameraman, 37 have been arrested in the case so far, and all have been denied bail.