Mangaluru : With Chief Minister Siddaramaiah ruling out withdrawal of 13 cases against Sri Rama Sene chief Pramod Muthalik on Sunday, will there be greater focus on these cases and greater effort from the prosecution?

“The trial will continue unhindered,” an official in the Home Department told on Sunday. However, activists following these cases closely remained sceptical and said it will take time and a lot of will to move forward on these cases.

It may be recalled that the Dakshina Kannada district administration had objected to the proposal to withdraw 13 cases registered against Mr. Muthalik, who gained notoriety for raiding pubs in the coastal districts. The  Home Department wrote to the Director of Prosecution stating the intent of the State government for withdrawal of cases against Mr. Muthalik. While 12 of these cases related to hate speeches delivered in various places in the State, one was registered against him in 2009 following the infamous pub attack case, in which sene activists assaulted youths. Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim had written on December 28, 2015 to the Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, stating that the move to withdraw the cases would send wrong signals and also demoralise the police force. He refused to comment on the Chief Minister’s statement.