Case against me politically motivated: Sharanprakash Patil

Team Udayavani, May 16, 2020, 7:15 AM IST

Kalaburagi: Former Karnataka Minister Dr Sharanprakash Patil, who was booked for violating COVID-19 imposed lockdown guidelines said that the case against him was politically motivated.

“It’s politically motivated, the officer who filed the case was forced by MLA or some other people. As elected representatives, we’re going in the constituencies, listening to people as they’re apprehensive about the return of migrants. We had not conducted any meeting. Wherever we have gone we have followed social distancing,” Patil was quoted speaking to ANI.

He further added, “When I had gone there people came to discuss a local problem and I was talking to an official concerned. In the meantime, some officers gave a complaint that we have violated the lockdown or something. They are trying to curb the voice of opposition because there are a lot of lacunae. We hear complaints about quarantine centers that there is no proper facility for food, or stay, or bathrooms.”

Patil’s comment comes after, 23 persons, including the former MLA and 21 local Congress leaders were booked under Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).