Viral video instigating violence against K’taka HC judges – 2 TNTJ functionaries arrested

Team Udayavani, Mar 20, 2022, 11:47 AM IST

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Bengaluru: Police took quick action after complaints were received about a viral video instigating violence against the Karnataka High Court judges who pronounced the Hijab verdict, and arrested 2 persons in this connection, reported IANS.

While Kovai Rahamathulla was arrested from Tirunelveli, S. Jamal Mohammad Usmani was taken into custody from Thanjaur. Both the arrests took place on Saturday night. The accused are office bearers of the Tamil Nadu Towheed Jamaat (TNTJ), the report said.

The arrests were made after multiple complaints against the accused in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Police sources said that several persons have been booked in this connection.

Last week, the special bench comprising Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court Ritu Raj Awasthi, Justices Krishna S. Dixit, and Khaji Jaibunnesa Mohiyuddin, while dismissing the petitions demanding hijab in classrooms, underlined that wearing of hijab is not an essential part of Islam.

Several organizations in Tamil Nadu are protesting against the judgment. A video of the accused Kovai Rahamathulla went viral where he allegedly instigates violence against the Karnataka judges.

In his speech, the accused mentions a district judge in Jharkhand being mowed down last year while the latter was out on a morning walk. He even stated that people know where the Chief Justice of Karnataka goes to walk in the morning.

Tamil Nadu BJP Chief and former Karnataka cadre IPS officer K. Annamalai, has written to the Chief Justice of the Madras High Court Justice M.N. Bhandari and demanded an inquiry.

In Karnataka, Vidhana Soudha police in Bengaluru have booked an FIR based on the complaint by advocate Sudha Katwa. In the complaint, it is mentioned that there is death threat, criminal intimidation, use of abusive language, and also a breach of peace, as well as communal harmony, in the state, IANS said.

The police have registered the FIR under IPC Sections 506 (1), 505 (1) (B), 153 A, 109, and 504.

Meanwhile, advocate Umapathy has filed a representation with the Registrar General of the Karnataka High Court in this connection. The Advocate’s Association Bengaluru has also condemned the development, IANS reported.

The police have beefed up security for the Karnataka High Court judges.

(With inputs from IANS)