Porngate scandal - Private complaint against MLAs dismissed

Porngate scandal - Private complaint against MLAs dismissed

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore/ Bangalore , May 5, 2012 : A local court has dismissed a private complaint filed by advocate Dharamal Gowda against 3 former ministers for allegedly viewing porn clips on their mobile phones during assembly session early this year on grounds that they were immune because they were members of the legislative assembly.

According to Venkatesh Hulagi, the additional chief metropolitan magistrate, who dismissed the complaint, the trio enjoys parliamentary privileges.

Advocate Dharamal Gowda however is determined to file a revision petition in sessions court.

On Feb 15, the Vidhana Soudha (state secretariat) Police lodged an affidavit in the local court stating that the complaint is “non maintainable” as the complainant had not sought the permission of the speaker of the legislative assembly before lodging it. According to them, since the porn viewing episode took place in assembly and all three are MLAs, the speaker’s permission is essential and the complaint is not maintainable because the speaker’s permission was not sought.

The local court on Feb 13 had directed the police to investigate the complaint and submit a report by Feb 27.

Speaker K. G. Bopaiah had also served notices on the trio. Owing to public protests following the porn viewing scandal, Palemar, Savadi, and Patil resigned their ministerial posts.