Belthangady : The Belthangady Court has upheld an earlier order and has sentenced Nagarika Seva Trust, Guruvayanakere President K Somanath Nayak to three months imprisonment in the case of malicious propaganda against Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala by violating a court injunction.

Apart from three months imprisonment, the court has also ordered attachment of the immovable property owned by Nayak to pay a compensation of Rs 4.5 lakhs to the Kshetra.

The Court has also directed Nayak to pay an additional Rs 2,000 as compensation for unnecessarily wasting the time of the court and also harassing the Sri Kshetra despite knowing that he did not have any evidence to prove his case.

It may be recalled here that following an appeal filed by Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala, family of Dharmadhikari Veerendra Heggade and other organisations against K Somanath Nayak and others the Belthangady Additional Civil Court had passed an injunction in 2013 restraining the defendants from issuing any statement or making any allegation against the Kshetra and the people concerned.

It is alleged that the order was continuously violated and seeking legal action B Vardhaman had moved the court on behalf of the Kshetra.

The Court which conducted prolonged hearing took note of the fact that Nayak was sentenced twice in the past but following the appeal made by him, the case was sent back to the base court for additional enquiry.

The court has now upheld the earlier judgement and has sentenced Nayak to three months imprisonment.