The Special Crimes Branch (SCB) of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) here has registered five cases against journalists, advocates and police personnel in connection with the March 2, 2012 clash outside a special CBI court in Bangalore that left at least 60 people injured.
Acting on the directions of the Supreme Court, the CBI registered the cases based on complaints lodged by the police, advocates, journalists, a judge and members of public. While the local police accused advocates and journalists for the clash, the judge, advocates and journalists held the police responsible, agency sources told The Hindu on Wednesday.
The CBI formed five special teams under the direct supervision of Deputy-Inspector General of Police (SCB) S. Selvaraj Sengathir to investigate the cases.
The incidents pertain to the riot involving police, advocates, journalists and others in front of a special court in Bangalore on March 2, 2012 when the Bellary mining baron Gali Janardhan Reddy was brought there.
Besides a sessions court Judge R.B. Budhilal, many journalists, advocates and policemen suffered injuries. Property worth several lakh was damaged and vehicles were set ablaze.
The violence erupted after some advocates prevented the media from taking visuals of Mr. Reddy being taken away in a vehicle. The Karnataka State police had registered 121 cases and transferred investigation to a Special Investigation Team. The Supreme court later ordered a probe by the CBI.
