Karnataka High Court stays FIR against Yatnal on his remarks against Ranya Rao

The High Court of Karnataka on Tuesday stayed further proceedings based on the First Information Report (FIR) registered against Vijayapura MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal for allegedly outraging modesty of Kannada actor Ranya Rao, who was arrested in connection with a gold smuggling case, through his derogatory statements made before the media.

The High Court of Karnataka on Tuesday stayed further proceedings based on the First Information Report (FIR) registered against Vijayapura MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal for allegedly outraging modesty of Kannada actor Ranya Rao, who was arrested in connection with a gold smuggling case, through his derogatory statements made before the media.

Justice Pradeep Singh Yerur passed the interim order on a petition filed by Mr. Yatnal, who has questioned the FIR registered by the High Grounds police in Bengaluru based on a complaint lodged by one Akula Anuradha. The FIR was registered on March 18 under Section 79 (outraging the modesty of a woman) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

It has been contended in Mr. Yatnal’s petition that the complainant was not authorised by Ms. Ranya to lodge the complaint on her behalf. Pointing out that his statement, which is in the public domain, implied that he was insisting on plugging the loopholes in the system to prevent smuggling of gold by hiding the same in the bodies of the passengers, and did not in any way outrage the modesty of women.

The statement made in the kind of Kannada often spoken in the northern part of Karnataka, is rustic and at first blush appears offensive. However, there was no intention of outraging the modesty of the accused person allegedly involved in gold smuggling, it has been claimed in the petition.

Contending that complainant was setup with sole intent to discourage the petitioner from disclosing the names of two Ministers as the petitioner had given a statement that he would disclose the names on the floor of the Legislative Assembly. It has also been contended in the petition that Section 79 of the BNS is not applicable to the facts of the case.

In her complaint, Dr. Anuradha had alleged that Mr. Yatnal, while addressing the media, used demeaning and derogatory words against Ranya, and that the statement against Ranya was objectionable, demeaning, and vulgar in nature.