Daijiworld Media Network - Madikeri

Madikeri, Apr 19: In a relief to Kannada actress and former MP Ramya, the sedition case that had been filed against her has been quashed by the Somwarpet court.

Katnamane Vittala Gowda, an advocate and Kodagu district president of of 'Prajaranga', had filed a private complaint against Ramya in August 2016 for allegedly praising Pakistan and calling it good and lovable. He had contended that Ramya had 'insulted' Indians by praising Pakistan, and had urged the court to direct the police to book Ramya for sedition and for disturbing peace in Karnataka. The case was registered under IPC sections 124 (A), 344 and 511, and the JMFC court in Somwarpet had admitted the complaint.

Delivering the verdict, judge Shyam Prakash observed, "Pakistan has not been officially declared as an enemy nation by the Indian govenment. Pakistani soldiers and terrorists have killed our soldiers, but that is no reason to hold the entire Pakistani population at fault."

As there was no evidence to support the charges under the various sections, the court declared that her statement did not amount to sedition.

Ramya had made the statement after returning from her visit to Pakistan. She had termed the people of Pakistan as good and lovable, stating that Pakistan was not a 'hell'.

The complainant Vittal Gowda, meanwhile, said that he will now approach the higher court.