Two scribes including Ravi Belegere of 'Hi Bangalore' sentenced to jail by Speaker

The Privileges Committee recommend action against Ravi Belegere and Anil Raju of 'Yelahanka Voice' The scribes had published defamatory articles on legislators causing damage to their reputation They have also been fined with Rs 10,000 each along with a year imprisonment

Noted scribe Ravi Belegere has been sentenced to a year's imprisonment along with another tabloid journalist Anil Raju for publishing defamatory articles against legislators. They have also been slapped with a fine of Rs 10,000 each. Ravi Belegere is the editor of 'Hi Bangalore' and Raju edits 'Yelahanka Voice' paper.

Speaker KB Koliwad took the decision following the recommendation made by the House Privileges Committee that the defamatory articles published against legislators BM Nagaraj (Congress) and SR Vishwanath (BJP) had caused damage to their reputation.

The Privileges Committee chairman Kimmane Ratnakar brought up the issue in the House and the Legislative Assembly gave a nod penalising the scribes, reports Prajavani. BJP MLA SR Vishwanath had told the committee that 'Yelahanka Voice' Editor Anil Raju had published articles that damaged his reputation in his constituency. Despite summoning him to the House to seek apology, he continues to do the same.

Even Congress MLA BM Nagaraj too raised the issue that Ravi Belegere-owned 'Hi Bengaluru' had published false news about his family. Although, he was summoned, he failed to appear before the House. This amounts to disrespecting the house. The committee should also take action against him, he urged, reports Prajavani.