Mangalore : The Karnataka Cabinet, in a significant decision on June 13, Thursday has approved the withdrawal of criminal cases lodged against Kasturi channel reporter Naveen Soorinje in the homestay attack case.

Naveen who was arrested on November 7 last year had been granted bail by the High Court on March 23. Though the previous BJP government had promised to withdraw the cases, it had failed to keep up its words.

Even a TV cameraman Sharan had been arrested in the case. Naveen was framed with the same charges as those leveled against other assailants who had manhandled and attacked partying young boys and girls at the Padil homestay.

Meanwhile, Sharan has not secured bail and is still behind bars.

The arrest had led to widespread protests. The DK District Working Journalists Union delegation had recently met District Minister Ramanatha Rai and had appealed to him to withdraw cases against Naveen and Sharan and also release Sharan.