Karnataka High Court quashes second FIR against BJP MLA Yatnal

The Karnataka High Court has quashed a second First Information Report (FIR) registered against BJP MLA Basanagouda R. Patil, also known as Yatnal, regarding a speech delivered during a Ramanavami event in April 2025.

Justice M. Nagaprasanna ruled that the second FIR, filed at the Hubballi Town Police Station, could not stand because a previous FIR concerning the exact same speech had already been quashed and that order had attained finality. The court noted that the second complaint was registered after an interim order had been granted in the first petition.

The allegations involved claims that the MLA made derogatory remarks about the Prophet Muhammad, which complainants argued hurt religious sentiments. The court highlighted legal precedents requiring police to carefully consider the actual meaning of spoken words before registering FIRs related to promoting enmity or outraging religious feelings.