(1.) Heard Sri Mahadev Patil, learned counsel for Sri Sanjay Kulkarni, learned counsel for the petitioner. Perused the records. Notice issued to the respondent was personally served. The respondent being Advocate has not appeared before the Court to contest the proceedings.
(2.) The petitioner has sought for quashing of the entire proceedings in PCR No. 288/2014 registered against the petitioner for the offences punishable under Sections 295, 295A and 298 of IPC. The factual matrix discloses that respondent being an Advocate of Bagalkot filed a private complaint under Section 200 of Cr.P.C, making allegations that he has read a newspaper dated 10.06.2014 in which publication, a news item was published wherein the petitioner herein has reiterated what has been stated by Dr. U.R. Ananthamurthy. It is specifically stated that the petitioner on 09.06.2014, on Monday, in a function at Bangalore Vignana Bhavana, was speaking on the subject "Moudyamukta Samaja" and he has quoted the experiment of Dr. U.R. Ananthamurthy, wherein, through his experiment it is proved that even if a person urinate on the idols of god, it is not a wrongful act. Because, idols which are made up of stones have no power to save the people or serve the people or even to destroy the people. Kannada version noted in the complaint is extracted below:
(3.) On the basis of such allegations, complaint came to be lodged and the Court has taken cognizance and issued summons to the accused for the offences punishable under Sections 295, 295A and 298 of Indian Penal Code.