Mangaluru: MLA Poonja justifies his protest at police station

Mangaluru: Belthangady MLA Harish Poonja justified his protest at the police station, saying, “When an innocent was booked due to the conspiracy of the Congress-led government, I staged a protest, which is a right of a person as per the Constitution.” “I will stage protests in the future too if an innocent in my constituency is booked by the police,” Poonja asserted during a press conference on Monday. When asked the question, he retorted, “Was any FIR lodged against Siddaramaiah when he grabbed the collar of a senior police officer?” The BJP believes in the Constitution. He told media persons that it was the Congress that had created unrest in the country and hence the voters sent them home.

“BJP Yuva Morcha leader Sasiraj Shetty is innocent and there is no case registered against him. Yet he was labelled a rowdy. His name was included in the FIR after the mahajar process,” Harish recalled. “After Shetty is released, he will come for a truth test at any temple in the district to prove his innocence.” Harish promptly refuted DK Superintendent of Police Rishyanth C B’s statement that only three policemen were sent to his house to serve the notice on May 22. “More than 15 policemen came to my house to serve the notice. The CCTV footage installed at my house will prove this,” he alleged. “The SP is acting as a spokesperson for the Congress with the aim of appeasing Congress leaders,” he alleged. On the submission of a chargesheet against Poonja in a case related to preventing officials from clearing the foundation laid for a house by encroaching forest land at Kalenja, the MLA said; “The Forest Minister on the floor of the Assembly had said that the case would be withdrawn. But now the chargesheet has been filed. What kind of administration is there in Karnataka?” he asked.

Harish’s lawyer K S Sharma said; “No bail proceedings were initiated at the police station after the owner went to the police station for questioning. There is no bail in the police station for a non-bailable offence. If the punishment in a case is less than seven years, the police should serve a notice as per Section 41 of the CrPC. When he does not appear even after serving three notices, the non-cooperation by the suspect should be brought to the notice of the magistrate. The magistrate decides the further action,” he said. DK MP Nalin Kumar Kateel alleged that the government was engaged in hate politics.