Dharmasthala Journalist Sudarshan Belalu Booked for Spreading False Information

Dharmasthala Police have registered a case against journalist Sudarshan Belalu for allegedly disseminating false information about a criminal case via a report on the website Hosa Kannada. The report claimed district police officials deliberately avoided meeting a legal team representing an individual with information on past crimes in Dharmasthala, sparking public concern, according to a police statement issued on Tuesday.

Dakshina Kannada Police clarified that the legal team lacked prior permission to meet the Superintendent of Police, and the official’s absence was not intentional. They accused Belalu of publishing the report without verifying facts, alleging it aimed to incite fear. A case was filed at Dharmasthala Police Station under Sections 352 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace) and 353(1)(b) (statements conducing to public mischief) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities emphasizing the need to curb misinformation under the new criminal code, effective since July 1, 2024.

The case has drawn attention amid prior controversies in Dharmasthala, including the 2012 Sowjanya murder case, where investigative lapses and allegations of shielding perpetrators have fueled public distrust. Posts on X, such as from @deepikacariappa, reflect broader concerns about press freedom and police accountability in the region, though these remain unverified.

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