Govt has suspended police sub-inspector over lawyers’ protest: Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara

A group of lawyers had staged protests against the PSI on Monday and Tuesday, demanding action against him.

The lawyers had first protested on February 6 after alleging that a few people had barged into a room where a group of advocates were holding a meeting to file a complaint against fellow advocate Chand Pasha.

He had allegedly made derogatory remarks on Facebook against the Varanasi Court judge who had allowed Hindus to worship in the basement of the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi. Pasha, who is also a leader of Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), was arrested for the social media post.

After a complaint was filed against them, the lawyers launched a protest alleging that they were booked on false charges and sought action against Hussain.

The issue flared up Monday when the advocates launched a protest at Ramanagar on Monday, to which Leader of Opposition R Ashok and JD(S) state president and former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy extended support.

Meanwhile, a separate complaint was filed by businessman Rafiq Khan, who alleged that he and his associates were waylaid and assaulted by a group when they were on their way to the office of the Advocates Association. They were headed there to submit a memorandum saying that the allegations against Pasha were false, Khan said.

Parameshwara said that the lawyers had pressed for the suspension of the officer. “They (lawyers) were preparing to protest in Bengaluru. Due to this, we have suspended PSI Tanveer Hussain,” he said. Strict action will also be initiated against Pasha against whom there are many allegations, he added.