The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a petition alleging that Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah orchestrated threats to forcibly कब्जा a property, observing that the matter should be pursued before the jurisdictional High Court. The plea was ultimately withdrawn after the bench expressed disinclination to intervene.
A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta was hearing a petition filed by two individuals who claimed that the petitioner was facing continuous threats in Karnataka and had been compelled to stay in Delhi.
During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel submitted that despite filing multiple police complaints and securing court orders in his favour, the alleged threats had not ceased. He further stated that the petitioner was unable to enter Karnataka due to safety concerns.
Responding to the submissions, the bench questioned the nature and extent of the alleged threats. “Is the Karnataka chief minister sending people after you in Delhi?” the court asked. The counsel clarified that the threats were confined to Karnataka.
The lawyer also referred to an incident in January, alleging that the property in question was targeted by stone pelting and vandalism by certain individuals. According to the petitioner, these actions were part of an attempt to take over the property.
However, the bench repeatedly asked why the petitioner had not approached the Karnataka High Court, which had jurisdiction over the matter. The counsel reiterated that the petitioner’s inability to enter the state due to threats made it difficult to pursue remedies locally.
At one point, the court also remarked that the dispute appeared to have elements of a “political battle” being brought before the judiciary. The counsel, however, maintained that the petitioner had no political affiliations.
After the bench indicated that it was not inclined to entertain the petition, the counsel sought permission to withdraw it. The Supreme Court dismissed the plea as withdrawn, granting liberty to the petitioners to approach the appropriate High Court for relief.
