The Karnataka High Court on Monday directed the State to provide armed protection to a petitioner, who had in February this year, filed a writ petition in court seeking transfer of probe of two criminal cases registered against Munirathna N., Rajarajeshwarinagar constituency MLA, and others on misuse of around 9,000 voter ID cards during 2018 May elections.
Justice Aravind Kumar passed the interim order on an application filed by petitioner Rakesh N. The protection has to be given to the family members of the petitioner, the court said.
The petitioner has alleged that Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Raviprasad had on March 19 warned him in the premises of the city civil and sessions court that his life of the petitioner and that of his family members would be at stake if he did not settle the issue with the MLA, while claiming that the MLA is likely to become Home Minister shortly. The petitioner alleged in the application that the ACP even threatened that “the petitioner may die in the street”.
The petitioner claimed that the City Police Commissioner did not take any action against the ACP and others based on a complaint lodged by the him on March 19.