Date:09/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/09/stories/2009010955490500.htm

Karnataka - Mangalore

Cases against ‘Karavali Ale’ publisher

Staff Correspondent

MANGALORE: Vikram Hegde, advocate of B.V. Seetaram of “Karavali Ale” said that the latter’s bail applications would come up for hearing before the courts of Judicial Magistrate First Class II and III on Friday. Two cases each are registered against him at Bajpe and Mangalore North police stations and two cases each registered in Kavoor and Mangalore Rural police stations.

All these cases have been registered under Sections 153 (A), 153 (B) and 29 (A) of Indian Penal Code. Cases registered under these sections of the IPC are non-bailable, he said. The advocate said that seer of Vajradehi math, Gurupur Rajashekarananda, had filed a complaint against Mr. Seetaram and his wife S. Rohini, managing director of Chitra Publications at Bajpe police station on December 17, 2008.

In his complaint the seer alleged that an article published in the daily on December 1, 2008, had tarnished the image of the math.

Sumana Nayak of Bajilakeri in Mangalore had filed a complaint against Mr. Seetaram in Mangalore North police station on December 12 against an article published in his daily on November 28, 2008 related to Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of the Art of Living, Bangalore.

She alleged that the article was aimed at disturbing communal harmony.

Harish, said to be a disciple of Vajradehi math, had filed a complaint against Mr. Seetaram and his wife at Kavoor station on December 16, 2008. In his complaint he alleged that two articles published in the daily on December 1 and December 12, 2008 had hurt the feelings of the disciples of the math. Santhosh Kumar of Arkula in Mangalore had filed a complaint on December 20, 2008 alleging that “Karavali Ale” was writing about religion in a bad manner.