Sedition Charge Against Karnataka Constabulary: Crime Branch Uses Letters To Amit Shah, Mohan Bhagwat As ‘Evidence’

As part of the evidence to prove the intent of the police constabulary to commit mutiny against the previous Siddaramaiah government, the Central Crime Branch (CCB) in its chargesheet has attached letters allegedly written to BJP national president Amit Shah, RSS supremo Mohan Bhagwat among other right-wing leaders, reports Bangalore Mirror.

The chargesheet has been filed against six accused, including three constables still serving in the police. The first accused is president of the Akhila Karnataka Police Mahasangha, V Shashidar.

Also, to prove sedition under Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code, the chargesheet cites 347 minutes of transfer recommendations supposedly made by politicians to create resentment among police ranks.

“It is shocking how the police are trying to prove sedition charges which itself is an archaic law infringing on personal rights. All that the cops found were acknowledgement receipts of some letter I had sent to Amit Shah, Mohan Bhagwat and Hosabale. They are public figures and might be getting thousands of letters from people across the country. It is not a crime at all,” Shashidhar stated.

Shashidhar also asserted that the contents of the letters were entirely fabricated as per the previous government’s narrative. He claimed that the chargesheet tries to paint his organising of a mass leave protest of the police constabulary to demand certain concessions such as better wages and decent treatment by senior police officers as a plot to overthrow the then Congress government.

Shashidhar, who wants the charges against him quashed, has moved the Karnataka High Court for justice.