Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (MS)
Bengaluru, Mar 7: The additional and sessions court court here has granted six Karnataka ministers temporary injunction on publishing or broadcasting defamatory news against them. The ministers had sought the intereference of the court in the light of BJP leader Ramesh Jarkiholi's resignation following the release of a sleaze video purpotedly involving him and a woman from north Karnataka.
Judge of 26th city additional and sessions court conducted inquiry on the appeal submitted by ministers Shivaram Hebbar, Dr K Sudhakar, S T Somashekhar, Bhairathi Basavaraju, B C Patil and Narayana Gowda. The judge gave interim order to all kinds of media not to publish or broadcast any CD with defamatory content or news against these ministers that are not verified.
The judge also sent out notices to the media houses which are shown as defendants in the complaint given by the six ministers and postponed the inquiry to March 31.
The court opined that the complainants hold high positions in the government. If any news which is not verified or authenticated is broadcast against them, it will bring disrepute to their status. Their honour in society and close family will be harmed.
The court also said in its verdict that citizens have the right to know about their leaders. Similarly, media also has freedom of speech. It is the duty of media to broadcast the issues in which the conduct of elected representatives are evaluated by the public. At the same time, the complainants also have the right to get themselves protected from the damage that occurs to their reputation and honour due to the broadcasting or prinitng of derogatory news.
The six ministers, in their complaint have mentioned that the media is propagating news that there are 19 CDs still with them which are connected to minister and MLAs of the present government. They also will be released soon. These kind of rumours are making the public to question us. We feel embarassed.
Minister Yogeshwar said that people of Kanakapura and Belagavi are behind the release of sex CD of Ramesh Jarkiholi. He said that the whole episode is political plot. The people behind this plot will face the consequences in coming days.
The ministers, who approached the court have defended their action by saying that there are attempts to defame their repuration and political image and that is why they had to approach the court. Due to technology available these days anything can be done. We have approached court with our political future in mind. Some people are jealous of the good work we are doing as ministers.
Minister S T Somashekar said, "We have not approached the court out of fear. But we have appealed not to become victims of political vendetta. If derogatory news of two or three minutes are broadcast against us, the public of our constituency, where we have been doing politics since 20 years, will think bad about us."
Bhairati Basavaraj said, "It is common for people in public life to face challenges. But is inevitable to face the evil forces when plots are hatched against us. There is a suspicion that plot is being hatched against ministers who are revered by public for their good work."
Dr K Sudhakar said, "I am in public life since four decades. People also know how am I. Even then we have approached court as anything can be done to black mail and damage the repuration of a person due to the technology that is available these days. An attempt is being made to threaten those who have joined from other parties in order to weaken the BJP government."
Shivaram Hebbar said, "We have not approached the court out of fear. If there is truth in what the media is saying, let them release the CD. We have approached the court to prevent any kind of dishonour due to graphic editing."
Agriculture minister B C Patil said, "As a son of a farmer, I have grown upto this level without any Godfather. Many people are not able to digest this fact. That is why, in order to protect our honour without falling into any political vendetta, we have approached the court."