The Congress-led Karnataka government has decided to withdraw criminal cases against All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Mohammed Arif and 138 others accused of leading a mob that attacked police and threatened to break in Police station.
They were also accused of inciting violence during the Hubali riots in April 2022.
The case against them included criminal charges of attempted murder and rioting, which have now been dropped despite objections from prosecutors, police and legal authorities.
In October 2023, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar wrote to the deputy commissioner of police requesting that the cases be withdrawn and the charges reconsidered. On Shivakumar’s advice, the home ministry was tasked with collecting relevant case information, including FIRs and witness statements.
The withdrawal of the case was met with strong opposition from the opposition, with the Bharatiya Janata Party accusing the Congress of trying to appease Muslims.
BJP MLC N Ravi Kumar said: “The Congolese government is practicing appeasement. It is supporting terrorists and withdrawing cases against them. While cases related to farmers and students are still pending, cases related to anti-India elements will be withdrawn. ”
Hubali riots
The riots began on April 16, 2022, when a derogatory picture depicting a saffron flag atop a mosque was posted on social media. This sparked outrage among the Muslim community, leading to massive protests outside the old Hubballi police station.
Initial demonstrations soon escalated into violence, with thousands of people reportedly involved in riots that resulted in injuries to four police officers and extensive damage to public property.