Chittapur cattle smuggling violence

One of the most contentious withdrawals concerns the 2019 Chittapur stone-pelting incident, where an Islamist mob of nearly 30 youth hurled stones at police officers. The attack followed a tip-off given by Hindu activists about illegal cattle transport. Shockingly, this case was recommended for withdrawal by IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge, drawing sharp criticism from both legal and public quarters.

Protection for DK Shivakumar’s supporters

Cases against supporters of Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar have also been scrapped. These individuals were accused of vandalizing buses, damaging government offices, and creating unrest in Kanakapura in 2019 after his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate. Similarly, cases against backers of his brother, former MP D.K. Suresh, linked to a 2012 protest where a mob surrounded the then-Chief Minister, were also annulled.

Ganesh Chaturthi processions targeted

The Siddaramaiah government has further withdrawn cases tied to Ganesh Chaturthi procession attacks in Ramanagara, Koppal, and other districts. These included charges of misconduct towards police, organizing banned ram fights, and violating event restrictions. Critics argue that withdrawing such cases sends a message of appeasement and disregard for Hindu religious sentiments.

Hubballi riots

Observers point out that this is not the first time the Congress has attempted such moves. In October 2024, the government controversially sought to withdraw cases against AIMIM leaders and Islamist mobs accused of orchestrating the 2022 Hubballi riots, where violent groups attacked a police station, damaged police vehicles, and even targeted a nearby Hanuman temple and a hospital. The Karnataka High Court later blocked that withdrawal following a PIL.

Shivamogga agitations also covered

Four cases tied to violent protests in Shikaripura, Shivamogga district (2023), against the BJP government’s internal reservation policy for Scheduled Castes, have also been erased. These were dropped after petitions from Home Minister Dr. G. Parameshwara and government Chief Whip Ashok Pattan.

Objections from top law enforcement

The withdrawals have been made despite objections from senior authorities, including the DGP & IGP, the Director of Prosecutions, and the Law Department. These bodies warned that the cases were not fit for withdrawal and that no public interest was being served. Their advice, however, was ignored by the state cabinet.

Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil defended the decision, stating that cases against “farmers, students, and Kannada activists” were also among those dropped. However, opposition leaders allege that the overwhelming majority are politically motivated withdrawals aimed at shielding Congress loyalists and Islamist rioters.

MUDA land scam clean chit adds fuel to fire

The case withdrawals come at a time when the Congress government has already been under fire over the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land scam. The one-man inquiry commission headed by Justice P.N. Desai recently gave a clean chit to CM Siddaramaiah and his family, despite allegations of forged documents and wrongful compensation claims. This showcases the government’s pattern of using state machinery to protect its own interests.

Opposition slams ‘appeasement politics’

Opposition parties, particularly the BJP, have condemned the move as blatant minority appeasement and political opportunism. They allege that the Siddaramaiah government has consistently favored Islamist mobs, AIMIM leaders, and Congress supporters over justice and law and order.

Hindu groups have also expressed outrage, particularly over the withdrawal of cases linked to cattle smuggling violence and Ganesh Chaturthi processions. They argue that the Congress government is systematically undermining the Hindu faith and festivals while bending backwards to appease select vote banks.

Shivakumar justifies withdrawals as ‘corrective Step’

As per the CommuneMag, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has defended the Siddaramaiah government’s controversial move to withdraw cases, claiming that it is not about shielding Congress supporters but about correcting politically motivated cases. He argued that many of these cases involved farmers, students, Kannada activists, and even BJP members who were unfairly booked during protests. Referring to his own past, he pointed out how cases filed against him by central agencies were later dismissed in court, yet no one acknowledged that justice had prevailed. According to Shivakumar, the withdrawals are a corrective step, not favoritism, but the pattern clearly shows selective appeasement and leniency towards Islamists and Congress loyalists.

The Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in Karnataka is showing a clear pattern that cannot be ignored anymore. Time and again, whenever violence or riots break out, the first instinct of this government is to shield its supporters and appease Islamist mobs, instead of standing with law-abiding citizens. Cases against stone pelters in Chittapur, mobs that damaged property in Kanakapura for D.K. Shivakumar, and even those who disrupted Ganesh Chaturthi processions have all been quietly withdrawn. In Hubballi, when an Islamist mob attacked a police station, a temple, and even a hospital, the government still tried to give them a free pass until the courts stepped in.

For ordinary Hindus in Karnataka, this sends a chilling message: their faith and safety are negotiable in the Congress government’s game of vote-bank politics. The pattern is simple: protect rioters if they are Muslim or Congress loyalists, and abandon justice if Hindus are the victims. By doing this repeatedly, Siddaramaiah and his cabinet are eroding trust in the system and making Hindus feel like second-class citizens in their own land.