Karnataka: Editors sentenced by state Assembly to move High Court

Two regional tabloid editors were sentenced to a year in prison and fined Rs 10,000 by the Karnataka Assembly, which later rejected a "reconsideration proposal."

Nagarjun Dwarakanath  | Edited by Ganesh Kumar Radha Udayakumar
Bengaluru, November 24, 2017 | UPDATED 16:54 IST
Karnataka High Court (Photo: Twitter/@J_Werner01)Karnataka High Court (Photo: Twitter/@J_Werner01)

Highlights

  • 1
    Two journalists were sentenced to a year in prison, fined Rs 10,000
  • 2
    The Committee of Privileges went through alleged defamatory articles against a few MLAs
  • 3
    It suggested a jail term for the journalists

Two regional tabloid editors who were sentenced to a year in prison and fined Rs 10,000 by the Karnataka Assembly, have decided to ask the Karnataka High Court for a stay.

During its Winter Session, the Assembly had rejected a "reconsideration proposal." In June, it had adopted recommendations of the Committee of Privileges, which suggested a jail term for the Ravi Belegere and Anil R.

The committee went through the alleged defamatory articles against a few MLAs. Its recommendations were approved by Speaker K B Koliwad.

Bengaluru Police sources confirmed that they had received instructions to form a special team to go ahead with arrest procedures.

However, the advocate representing the journalists called the conviction a witch-hunt.

"The speaker has taken the issue personally and because of his ego he has ordered the conviction," Advocate Shankarappa said.

"We will seek a stay in the High Court, we were not given a chance to represent ourselves in the recent assembly session. How can you convict someone without hearing their side of the story?"

He added that the journalists haven't been absconding, but are waiting for the High Court's order.