Bengaluru: The Karnataka cabinet has approved the withdrawal of 60 criminal cases across various police stations in the state, including those linked to the 2019 Chittapur stone-pelting incident and cases against supporters of Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar. The decision was confirmed on Thursday after a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil said the withdrawn cases are connected to farmers, students, Kannada activists, pro-Dalit groups, and political workers. However, he did not disclose full details of the individual cases. Official sources later confirmed that the list includes cases against Shivakumar’s alleged supporters, who were booked for stone-pelting on buses and government offices in Kanakapura following his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in 2019, when he was serving as an MLA.

The 2019 Chittapur case reportedly stemmed from violence after police seized cattle being transported illegally, based on a tip-off from Hindu activists. Other withdrawn cases include those involving Shivakumar’s brother, former Bangalore Rural MP D K Suresh, and his supporters who had gheraoed the then-Chief Minister in 2012 after their leader was excluded from a ceremony to garland Dr B R Ambedkar’s statue.

According to officials, cases tied to Ganesha procession-related skirmishes and protests by various organizations have also been included in the withdrawal list. The decision followed representations from public representatives and citizens requesting relief. These requests were reviewed by the Home Department, the DGP and IGP, the Director of Prosecutions & Government Litigation, and the Law Department, before being placed before the Cabinet Sub-Committee for consideration.

Interestingly, sources revealed that the Home Department and top police officials had advised against withdrawing all of these cases, but the cabinet moved ahead with its approval.