Controversial Congress Minister DK Shivakumar Doesn’t Seem To Listen, Gets Booked For Putting Up Illegal Hoardings

Byatarayanpura Police Station that falls under Bengaluru police has registered a case against Karnataka’s water resources minister DK Shivakumar for failing to remove an illegal ad banner despite being issued several warnings. Based on a complaint given by Muthuraj, an assistant RO (Revenue Officer) of the Rajarajeshwari Nagar zone of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the police have proceeded to book a case.

An FIR has been filed under Section 3 (Penalty for unauthorised disfigurement by advertisement) and 5 (punishment for abettors) of the Karnataka Open Place Disfigurement Act 1951 and 1981. Also, Section 233 and 285 (Prohibition against obstruction to streets) has been applied under the Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act of 1976. Apart from the aforementioned, Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been charged.

The police complaint was only filed after repeated notices were served on 13, 15, 30 August and 1 September. The hoarding was present in Pantapalya, off Mysore Road.

The use of flex banners were rampant until the High Court of Karnataka intervened in the matter and asked BBMP to take up steps after a PIL (Public Interest Litigation) was filed. An official ban on all forms of outdoor advertisements in Bengaluru for a year’s time is in place after the BBMP passed the Outdoor Signage and Public Messaging bylaws, reported The News Minute.