In a significant decision, the Karnataka High Court dismissed a criminal appeal by Sheikh Sadiq Ali, father of Sheikh Ijaz Ali, who stands accused in a terror-funding case. Sadiq Ali had petitioned for the release of Rs. 14,37,060, which he claimed were his earnings from flower and fruit sales, but was seized by police during an investigation. The court dismissed his appeal and imposed a Rs. 10,000 fine. The ruling was made by a division bench comprising Justice K.S. Mudagal and Justice Vijay Kumar A. Patil, with a detailed order expected to follow.
During the hearing, Special Public Prosecutor P. Prasanna Kumar strongly opposed the appeal, arguing that the confiscated funds were intended to fund terrorist activities and had been collected by Ijaz Ali, the accused. The prosecutor highlighted evidence indicating that Ijaz Ali was involved in raising funds for terrorism, which investigators confirmed. He argued that releasing the funds would undermine the evidence in the ongoing trial. The defence’s claims that the money had been legally earned were also contested, as documentation proving these earnings was reportedly insufficient. The High Court agreed, stating that any claims regarding the legality of the earnings should be proven in the trial court, and thus dismissed the petition.
This case has roots in heightened scrutiny around the DJ Halli area since an August 2020 outbreak of violence. This incident, now infamous, began when P. Naveen Kumar, the nephew of Congress MLA R. Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy, allegedly made a Facebook post offensive to Islam. The inflammatory post quickly circulated through local WhatsApp groups and other social media, prompting hundreds of people to gather outside the DJ Halli Police Station demanding action by 7 PM on August 11, 2020. As the crowd grew larger and angrier, the situation rapidly escalated.
By around 8 PM, a mob of approximately 200 people had gathered at the DJ Halli Police Station. While two police teams were sent to arrest Naveen Kumar, they returned empty-handed around 9:30 PM. The crowd demanded his immediate arrest. Meanwhile, about 1,000 people gathered outside MLA Murthy’s house in Kaval Byrasandra, escalating tensions further. By 10:30 PM, the situation turned violent at the police station, with the crowd vandalizing police vehicles and breaking into the station premises.
At Murthy’s residence in Kaval Byrasandra, the mob caused extensive property damage, setting fire to the MLA’s house and damaging other buildings nearby. The police, struggling to manage the aggressive crowd, attempted to disperse them using tear gas, but the situation only worsened. By midnight, rioters moved toward KG Halli Police Station, setting police vehicles on fire. This prompted police to fire warning shots in the air, but as the mob continued to advance, they were forced to fire into the crowd. This led to three fatalities and numerous injuries, with the rioting finally subsiding by 1:00 AM as the rioters dispersed.
The August 2020 DJ Halli violence shocked Bengaluru and led to heightened police vigilance in the area. The incident drew attention to the region’s social and communal tensions and led to ongoing investigations and increased security measures in DJ Halli and surrounding areas. Sheikh Ijaz Ali’s alleged involvement in terror financing and the police’s confiscation of funds from his father, Sadiq Ali, became a part of this heightened scrutiny. The DJ Halli case remains pivotal in discussions about communal sensitivity, with law enforcement taking proactive measures to prevent such incidents from recurring.
With the High Court’s recent decision to dismiss Sadiq Ali’s appeal, law enforcement agencies remain committed to strengthening counter-terrorism efforts and addressing security concerns that continue to affect Bengaluru and other parts of Karnataka.
BJP alleged Government plans withdraw cases
The Congress government in Karnataka is facing severe backlash for its recent cabinet decision to withdraw criminal cases against AIMIM leaders accused in the 2022 Hubballi riots. This move has raised concerns over alleged favouritism, with opposition leaders questioning the government’s motives, particularly as discussions surface about withdrawing cases against those involved in the DJ Halli/KG Halli riots.
State BJP President R. Ashoka has condemned this decision, alleging that the government is prioritizing appeasement over justice and public safety. Ashoka claims that government leaders are also considering withdrawing cases for the DJ Halli/KG Halli riots—violent incidents that shocked Bengaluru and claimed lives while causing widespread damage. Adding to these concerns, Karnataka’s Home Minister, G. Parameshwara, stated that the government would assess whether any “false cases” had been filed in the DJ Halli/KG Halli incidents, leaving room for potential withdrawals. He claimed the review could apply to any case found to be unwarranted, though he did not clarify on what basis this determination would be made.
Senior Congress MLC B.K. Hariprasad and MLA Tanveer Sait have both advocated for a review of these riot cases, calling for leniency in cases involving “innocent individuals, including students.” However, opposition parties are pushing back, accusing Congress of using this tactic to appease specific communities. The BJP argues that these decisions set a dangerous precedent, eroding public confidence in the government’s commitment to law and order and risking the state’s stability.
In response to this pressure, BJP leaders have expressed concerns about the selective nature of the withdrawals, suggesting that Congress is prioritizing votes over justice. The opposition believes this trend is a part of the Congress’s appeasement agenda and has condemned it as a move that could lead to future unrest, undermining the principles of justice and accountability.
Many fear this approach could alienate the state’s law-abiding citizens and embolden disruptive elements. Suppose the Congress-led government proceeds with the withdrawals for DJ Halli/KG Halli cases. In that case, the administration may face mounting criticism from opposition leaders and citizens concerned for Karnataka’s security and the integrity of its legal processes
