Mulbagal Town police have registered a criminal case against former Mulbagal MLA G. Manjunath in connection with the fake caste certificate issue.
The police initiated action following a complaint lodged by the Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement (DCRE) in view of an order by the Karnataka High Court on April 25 this year.
The High Court had set aside the election of Mr. Manjunath, Independent MLA from Mulbagal reserved constituency (Scheduled Caste), in the polls held in 2013.
The court held that he failed to establish that he belongs to a Scheduled Caste community, the Beda (Budga) Jangama. The court had declared that he belongs to Byragi caste, a Backward Caste (Category-1).
Mr. Manjunath filed his nomination papers as a Congress candidate for the State Assembly elections held on May 12. However the Returning Officer had rejected his papers following the court order.
The police have registered a case on charges of forging the document, cheating as well as under the provisions of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act based on a complaint filed by the DCRE Inspector K.O. Obala Reddy on Wednesday.
