MYSORE: Accusing the Mysore City police of shielding Infosys Chief Mentor N.R. Narayanamurthy, former Minister H.N. Nanjegowda has moved a city court seeking action against him for allegedly insulting national honour by disallowing the singing of the National Anthem during President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam's recent visit here.

In a complaint before the court of the 1st Additional Civil Judge (Senior Division) and Chief Judicial Magistrate at Mysore, Mr. Nanjegowda said Mr. Narayanamurthy had intentionally disallowed the gathering from singing the National Anthem in the presence of the President at a function at the Infosys campus here on April 8.

"This is nothing but an insult to the national honour," he said.

He said a recorded version of the National Anthem was played during the function instead, and added that this had also been against protocol for the President's visit.

Mr. Nanjegowda cited Mr. Narayanamurthy's reported remarks during a post-event press conference that "singing of the National Anthem would have hurt the feelings of the foreigners".

He said he had submitted a written complaint to the Vijaynagar police station in Mysore under whose jurisdiction the Infosys campus falls. Though he had been made to stay at the police station from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on April 13, no case had been registered. He said he had later sent a copy of the complaint even to the Commissioner of the Mysore City Police.

With reportedly no action forthcoming from the police so far, he was left with no option but to approach the court with the complaint, Mr. Nanjegowda said. "The complainant submits that the jurisdictional police have deliberately avoided the registration of the case and issuance of FIR on receipt of a complaint disclosing the commission of a cognisable and non-bailable offence and requesting to prosecute the accused, with the intention to shield the accused," Mr. Nanjegowda said in the complaint before the court.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail