Bidadi Farmers Get Relief as Karnataka High Court Pauses FIR Probe

The Karnataka High Court has granted interim protection to six farmers from Bidadi who were booked after protesting against a joint survey connected to the proposed Bidadi Township project.

The court ordered a temporary halt to the FIR and further investigation after questioning the circumstances under which the complaint was filed. Justice M Nagaprasanna, hearing the matter, observed that the manner in which the complaint was registered appeared questionable.

The farmers had approached the High Court seeking cancellation of the FIR registered against them. The petitioners include Jayamma, Varalakshmamma, HR Nagaraju, HC Krishnappa, K Mohan and Harish Kumar from the Bidadi area.

During the hearing, senior advocate DR Ravishankar argued that the government had previously indicated that land would not be acquired against the wishes of farmers. He said officials nevertheless attempted to enter agricultural land for the survey, leading to opposition from the affected farmers.

The lawyer also argued that the farmers had been cultivating the land for several generations and that the location of their agricultural properties near the city should not automatically mean they have to give them up.

A key issue raised before the court was the identity of the complainant. According to the petitioners, the officials who were allegedly involved in the incident did not themselves file the complaint. Instead, the complaint was submitted by a hired car driver identified as Mohammed Sameer.

The court questioned why a hired driver had filed the complaint when officials allegedly affected by the incident were present. The bench expressed concern over the circumstances and ordered an interim stay on the investigation while issuing notices to the respondents.

The case relates to an incident on July 13 near Mandalahalli in Bidadi. Officials had arrived in the area to conduct a joint survey for the township project, but farmers opposed the exercise and staged a protest carrying brooms.

The situation reportedly turned tense, with pushing and shoving during the protest. A car window was also damaged during the incident.

Following the complaint, the farmers were booked under several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Section 109 relating to attempt to murder. The serious charges had raised concern among the farmers, who subsequently moved the High Court.

The interim order does not finally decide the allegations or cancel the FIR. It does, however, provide temporary relief to the six farmers while the court considers the matter further.