NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court issued notice and asked JD(S) leader BB Patil, also a former police officer, to reply to an appeal filed by the Karnataka government challenging the quashing of a criminal complaint against him for damaging Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) as part of a mob last year during the Karnataka assembly elections.
A two-judge bench of the top court, led by Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma issued notice to Patil and sought his response in the Karnataka government appeal.
The apex court would now hear the case after summer vacations (July 7).
It is to be noted that Patil, a retired police officer belonging to JD(S) party, is accused of allegedly damaging EVMs as part of a mob last year during the Karnataka assembly elections.
Initially, in July 2023, Karnataka High Court's Kalaburagi Bench, in its order had quashed the criminal case and complaint against Patil and granted him relief in the case.
But Karnataka govt had subsequently moved the apex court and filed an appeal before it seeking reversal of the HC order.
Karnataka government in its appeal, said that the complaint was wrongly quashed by the HC.
"Without appreciating that there are overwhelming material (documents or evidences) against him (Patil) which was placed on record in the form of video recordings and photographs showing him to be part of the mob that attacked and abused the government officials on election duty and damaged the EVM machines," Karnataka govt said in its appeal filed before the top court.
The Karnataka govt strongly made it clear to thr apex court that the accused had played an active role and led the mob that attacked poll officials, causing damage to vehicles and destroyed election materials including EVMs last year during the assembly polls.