The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday stayed the investigation against BJP leader Ravi Patil and two of his supporters in a case concerning the alleged attempt to delete the names of 198 Muslim voters from electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in Belagavi.
Justice Venkatesh Naik T passed the interim order, noting that a coordinate Bench of the High Court had stayed investigations in similar cases on October 9.
“The coordinate Bench had stayed the investigation in similar matters on 09.10.2026. The perusal of the aforesaid order and the facts and circumstances involved in the present case are similar. In view of maintaining judicial discipline, it is just and proper to stay the investigation till the next date of hearing,” the Court observed.
The Court also allowed the Karnataka government to seek modification or cancellation of the interim order, if required.
Petitioners Cite Earlier Court Order
During the hearing, senior advocate M Aruna Shyam, appearing for the petitioners, submitted that the High Court had already stayed investigations in similar cases.
On October 8, another Bench had directed the police not to take any coercive action against Patil and his two supporters in connection with the case.
The latest order extends interim relief to the petitioners by staying the investigation until the next hearing.
FIR Alleges Attempt to Target Muslim Voters
According to the FIR, the petitioners, along with around 20 to 25 other people, allegedly conspired to target voters belonging to the Muslim community and sought the deletion of 198 names from the electoral rolls during the SIR process in Belagavi.
The allegations remain subject to investigation and have not been established in court.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on October 29.
