Srinivas Institute of Medical Science and Research Centre inaugurated

December 25, 2011

Mangalore, December 25: Chief Minister DV Sadananda Gowda said that the contribution of undivided Dakshina Kannada district towards the education, health and banking sector of the country is remarkably immense.

He was speaking after inaugurating Srinivas Institute of Medical Science and Research Centre and Srinivas Hospital built under the aegis of A Sharma Rao Foundation at Suratkal, on the outskirts of the city on Sunday.

“This is the seventh medical college in the district. No other state in India has so many medical institutions,” he said.

Terming the Dhakshina Kannada as the 'Ganga of knowledge', he said this coastal district contributed to the overall development of the country without depending on any government. He also recalled the outstanding achievement of individuals from this district like TMA Pai, Shivram Karant and others.

Congratulating A Sharma Rao Foundation for establishing a new institutions in the district, he said such institutions contribute to the development of the country, as the Government alone cannot take all the responsibilities in the modern days amidst the rapid population growth.

The CM also called upon the educational intuitions to impart quality education.

Minister for Higher Education and Religious Endowment, VS Acharya, in his address pointed out that Karnataka has secured a special position in the education sector in the entire country.

Shri Vishweshwara Theerta Swamiji, the chief pontiff of Pejawara Mutt, speaking on the occasion said: “For a child's growth both father and mother are important. Similarly for the growth of a Nation, the Government and Society should play the role of father and mother”

Calling upon the doctors to show sympathy towards patients, he said a doctor has the capability of protecting or torturing a human being.

Dr. Sriprakash KS, Vice Chancellor, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bangalore said that the motto of the institution should be to reach the common people.

CA A. Raghavendra Rao, President of A. Sharma Rao Foundation presided over the function. Srinivas Rao, Vice President of the Foundation, welcomed the gathering.

Krishna J Palemar, DK District Minister and, Vinay Kumar Sorake, Secretary, AICC, Dr. CV Raghuveer, Dean and Medical Director, Cap Ganesh Karnik, MLC were present among others.

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HC refuses to quash probe against Mangaluru WhatsApp admin over offensive posts

News Network

February 1,2026

Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has refused to quash an investigation against a WhatsApp group administrator accused of allowing the circulation of obscene and offensive images depicting Hindutva politicians and idols in 2021.

Justice M Nagaprasanna observed that, prima facie, the ingredients of the offence under Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code were made out. “The offence under Section 295A of the IPC is met to every word of its ingredient, albeit prima facie,” the judge said.

The petitioner, Sirajuddin, a resident of Belthangady taluk in Dakshina Kannada district, had challenged the FIR registered against him at the CEN (Cyber, Economics and Narcotics) police station, Mangaluru, for offences under Section 295A of the IPC and Section 67 of the Information Technology Act. Section 295A relates to punishment for deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage the religious feelings of any class of citizens.

According to the complaint filed by K Jayaraj Salian, also a resident of Belthangady taluk, he received a WhatsApp group link from an unknown source and was added to the group after accessing it. The group reportedly had six administrators and around 250 participants, where obscene and offensive images depicting Hindu deities and certain political figures were allegedly circulated repeatedly.

Sirajuddin was arrested in connection with the case and later released on bail on February 16, 2021. He argued before the court that he was being selectively targeted, while other administrators—including the creator of the group—were neither arrested nor investigated. He also contended that the Magistrate could not have taken cognisance of the offence under Section 295A without prior sanction under Section 196(1) of the CrPC.

Rejecting the argument, Justice Nagaprasanna held that prior sanction is required only at the stage of taking cognisance, and not at the stage of registration of the crime or during investigation.

The judge noted that the State had produced the entire investigation material before the court. “A perusal of the material reveals depictions of Hindu deities in an extraordinarily obscene, demeaning and profane manner. The content is such that its reproduction in a judicial order would itself be inappropriate,” the court said, adding that the material, on its face, had the tendency to outrage religious feelings and disturb communal harmony.

Observing that the case was still at the investigation stage, the court said it could not interdict the probe at this juncture. However, it expressed concern that the investigating officer appeared to have not proceeded uniformly against all administrators. The court clarified that if the investigation revealed the active involvement of any member in permitting the circulation of such content, they must also be proceeded against.

“At this investigative stage, any further observation by this Court would be unnecessary,” the order concluded.

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