Siddaramaiah cabinet decides to withdraw cases in Hubballi riots case, draws BJP fire

BENGALURU: The Congress government in Karnataka has stoked a fresh controversy by deciding to withdraw cases against the Hubballi riots accused. The state cabinet, headed by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah took the decision at a meeting held on Thursday.

The move came after Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar had written to the government to drop the cases involving some AIMIM functionaries. Cases were registered against 155 rioters and 11 FIRs had been filed in the Hubballi riots incident which occurred in October 2022.

The decision to withdraw the cases filed in the Old Hubballi police station was taken despite opposition from the police and law departments. AIMIM leader Mohammed Arif and others had attacked policemen and had barged into the police station and threatened the police personnel. Two policemen had sustained serious injuries in the stone-pelting and over 10 police vehicles were damaged.

The BJP has strongly reacted to the decision to close the cases. BJP social media wing chief Amit Malviya termed it as another effort at Muslim appeasement.

The Congress Govt in Karnataka has withdrawn the Old Hubballi police station riot case, despite opposition from the Law and Police departments.

The case, filed in Oct 2022, involved AIMIM leaders Mohammed Arif and others, accused of leading a large mob of Muslims, that attacked… pic.twitter.com/LdJ8zqegNM

— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) October 11, 2024

“The Congress Govt in Karnataka has withdrawn the Old Hubballi police station riot case, despite opposition from the Law and Police departments. The case, filed in Oct 2022, involved AIMIM leaders Mohammed Arif and others, accused of leading a large mob of Muslims, that attacked the police and threatened to storm the station. Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar had recently written to the Govt, requesting the case be dropped. Several police officers were seriously injured during the rioting and stone-pelting that followed. This is nothing but Congress’s naked politics of Muslim appeasement”, Malviya wrote in a post on X.

Bangalore South MP Tejasvi Surya wrote on X, “Yet again, the Congress government in Karnataka prioritizes appeasement over justice. Under Congress Govt, criminals can evade consequences of burning even police stations if they belong to the vote bank community of Congress. What message will such a move send to the police department? This is a betrayal of the people of Karnataka, who deserve governance and security rather than a corrupt regime of loot, appeasement & breakdown of law and order”.

Yet again, the Congress government in Karnataka prioritizes appeasement over justice.

Under Congress Govt, criminals can evade consequences of burning even police stations if they belong to the vote bank community of Congress. What message will such a move send to the police… https://t.co/Il6ZYhvCba

— Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) October 11, 2024

On April 16, 2022, a youth had put up a post on social media which led to tensions, rioting and stone-pelting. The rioters has pelted stones at police vehicles right in front of the Old Hubli police station leaving two policemen seriously injured and 10 vehicles damaged.

In December 2023, DG&IGP Alok Mohan had written to all districts SP and police commissioners seeking information about withdrawing cases in their jurisdiction.

The cabinet also decided to withdraw 43 cases registered against political leaders and activists of different organisations. They include Gujarat Congress leader Jignesh Mewani, Higher Education Minister Dr M C Sudhakar, Minister Boseraju, Union Minister V Somanna, former minister M P Renukacharya, former MLA Veeranna Charantimath, MLC C T Ravi, Hirekerur MLA U B Banakar, former minister B R Yavagal, former Speaker K G Bopaiah, former MLA Anil S Benake and B M Sukumara Shetty.

It was also decided to withdraw cases against DK Shivakumar Fans Association president M S Angadi, KRV president T A Narayana Gowda, KRRS leader Kurubur Shantakumar, Chukki Nanjundaswamy, Hasiru Sene state president H R Basavarajappa among others.