Criminal case booked against former minister

A criminal case has been registered against former minister and JD (S) candidate from Chamarajanagar Lok Sabha constituency Kote M Shivanna on charges of obstructing the election staff on duty on April 12.

Deputy commissioner and district returning officer (DRO) P Manivannan told reporters today that Shivanna was traveling from Mysore to H D Kote in the afternoon on last Sunday with four supporters.

Despite the Kuvempunagar police asking him to stop his vehicle at the Srirampura check-post on the Manandavadi Road for an inspection, he did not do so and instead obstructed the election staff, which was on duty there. Therefore, the Jayapura police against Shivanna and his four supporters have registered criminal case under Sections 143, 147, 171, 353, 504 read with 149, he said.

Shivanna is said to have abused the election and police personnel on duty at the check-post. Consequently, vehicular movement was affected on the H D Kote main road. Taking advantage of this, he drove away from there pushing away the barricades.

Following this, the police control room directed the sector magistrate at Jayapura to intercept the vehicle. Even there he did not co-operate with the staff, it is said. Based on the report of the election personnel, the DRO has initiated action against the Janata Dal (S) candidate.

The sector magistrate had seized Rs 6.70 lakh, which was being carried in a car without documents on April 13 at the Kushalnagar check post under the jurisdiction of Madikeri assembly constituency. The Kushalnagar police had registered a case, Manivannan said.

The election personnel have seized publicity material of the BJP at the Manuganahalli check-post falling under the Hunsur assembly constituency. A vehicle was found carrying the material without supporting documents and hence they were seized along with the vehicle. The Bilikere Police have registered a case under Section 171 (H) of the IPC. About 30,000 handbills seized from the vehicle did not have the name of the printer and other relevant details as required under the regulations, the DRO said.