The High Court of Karnataka on Friday asked a petitioner to produce documents to support the allegation made in a PIL petition that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is using public-funded Sadhana Samavesha for political purposes in the guise of holding rallies to popularise the State government’s works.
It was contended on behalf of the petitioner, Keerthivardhan Joshi, a law student, that speeches delivered by Mr. Siddaramaiah at Sadhana Samavesha rallies were all targeted at his political opponents rather than popularising government schemes. These rallies were an example of how a party in power misuses public funds for political gains, it was argued.
However, as the petitioner had not produced any documents to show that money for these rallies were spent from the public exchequer, a Division Bench comprising acting Chief Justice H.G. Ramesh and Justice P.S. Dinesh Kumar directed the counsel to produce documents in this regard, and adjourned further hearing till January 8.
