Journalist Ravi Belagere sentenced to one-year jail term
- Editor of Hai Bengaluru weekly tabloid, Ravi Belagere has been sentenced to one-year jail term
- The decision to sentence him was announced by the Karnataka Legislative Assembly for breach of privilege
- Currently, he is undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Dharwad for chest pain
- CCB police and Vidyagiri Police are waiting outside the hospital to arrest Belagere
FollowThe Karnataka Legislative Assembly has directed to sentence journalist Ravi Belagere to one-year jail term and Rs 10,000 fine for breach of privilege. A team of the Central Crime Branch has reached the private hospital in Dharwad to arrest Belagere. But this decision has been criticised by the journalists, activists and former Speakers.
Editor of Hai Bangalore weekly tabloid Ravi Belagere was asked to be arrested as he had written articles against Speaker of the legislative assembly KB Koliwad, MLA BM Nagaraj and BJP MLA SR Vishwanath had also complained against Yelahanka Voice.
Ravi Belagere was at his farmhouse in Joida taluk of Uttara Kannada district in Karnataka and police reached there on Friday evening. On the arrival of police, Belagere complained of chest pain, and the police took him to a private hospital in Dharwad. Thus, he was arrested from Dharwad Hospital on Saturday. The CCB, as well as Vidyagiri Police, are waiting to arrest Ravi Belagere who is currently being treated at the Dharwad Hospital.
The Speaker has the right to admonish individuals for breach of privilege. But this is the first time in the history of Karnataka that someone was sentenced for breach of privilege.
Speaking to The Hindu, Belagere had said that he will continue his work and is not bothered about the arrest. It is a party of my job, he said.
However, the action to sentence the journalist was criticised by journalists and activists. Legal action has also been slapped on Anil Raj of Yelahanka Voice.
Former Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa referred the issue to the Privileges Committee in 2014. The committee’s report stated that Belagere had decided not to appear before the committee. The report also stated that Anil Raj of Yelahanka Voice had apologised but continued to write allegedly defamatory articles.
In a Facebook post, Belagere said, “Write against a politician, you will be in jail. That’s the message we got now.” He further said that “I am personally not disturbed by these judgements as I have been battling (sic). I am 100 % sure of the successful fight. (sic)”
