Speaker K B Koliwad gives nod to arrest veteran journalist Ravi Belagere

Acting on a July 2016 recommendation of a privileges committee of the Karnataka Assembly, Speaker K B Koliwad has approved an order for the arrest of veteran journalist Ravi Belagere.

The order entails a one-year prison term and fine of Rs 10,000 for Raju for publishing a defamatory article against the Speaker (when he was a Congress MLA) in 2014.

The Assembly secretariat has written to Bengaluru police commissioner to execute the orders of the Speaker to arrest and collect the fine.

As an MLA, Koliwad had moved a breach of privilege motion before former Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa in 2014 against Belagere, alleging that the tabloid Hi Bangalore had defamed him and breached privileges he enjoyed as an elected representative. The former Speaker had referred the matter to a privileges committee to address the issue.