Bengaluru (The Hawk): Cases against two Congress officials were dismissed by the Karnataka High Court on Friday, stemming from the grand old party's "PayCM campaign" against the BJP-led administration in the state.
Congress youth leader J.S. Narayana Gowda and Congress Legal Cell president V. Ramakrishna had submitted a petition asking the court to dismiss the charges brought against them in connection with the anti-ruling BJP's PayCM campaign.
The police arrested Narayana Gowda and Ramakrishna after they allegedly incited others to join the PayCM movement. The criminal case that had been launched against them was dismissed by the single bench headed by Justice M. Nagaprasanna.
A additional allegation stated that the accused contacted the people through cell phone and instructed them to place the posters.
The bench ruled that the petitioners should not be automatically charged with violating the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act or the Prevention of Defacement of Property Act.
In addition, the bench emphasised that they had not performed any activities that would result in criminal penalties.
The bench added that the order solely applies to the petitioners and not to any other defendants.
The petitioners were accused by the Nelamangala police of stealing the posters featuring a photo of Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and a QR code.
The Congress party has begun a campaign against the governing BJP, using the alleged existence of a "40% commission" as the main point of attack.
On the other hand, the ruling BJP made some extreme moves in relation to the campaign. Using a CM's image for partisan purposes, it argued, is an affront to the state.
During the Bharat Jodo Yatra, many people were detained for allegedly donning T-shirts advertising the PayCM Campaign.
Siddaramaiah, the leader of the opposition, and D.K. Shivakumar, the president of the Congress' Karnataka branch, have both taken part in the campaign and placed posters criticising the BJP.
The Congress party in Karnataka has started a fresh anti-BJP "SayCM Campaign" to discredit the Bharatiya Janata Party.
(Inputs from Agencies)