The Karnataka government on August 10 withdrew nine police cases registered against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Bengaluru Rural constituency Congress MP D.K. Suresh, and other Congress leaders for violating COVID-19 protocols while undertaking a padayatra on January 9, 2022. The padayatra was taken out seeking early implementation of Mekedatu drinking water project.
The previous Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP government had slapped cases against leaders for launching the padayatra from Sangam in Kanakapura taluk of Ramanagara district, about 100 km from Bengaluru. Hundreds of leaders, including Mr. Shivakumar, Mr. Siddaramaiah, and Congress chief M. Mallikarjun Kharge had taken part.
Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs H.K. Patil briefed on decisions taken at a State Cabinet meeting and said that Ijoor police, under Ramanagara district, had filed cases against the Congress leaders.
