HUBLI: Chief minister B S Yeddyurappa said the BJP or the state government have nothing to do with the Sri Rama Sene or its founder Pramod Mutalik. Police records indicate otherwise. The BJP government has been a long-time friend of Mutalik. A senior police official said the coalition government and the BJP government had withdrawn 54 cases against him.

As recently as January 3, the government withdrew 11 criminal cases against activists of the Bajrang Dal and other Hindutva organizations over their alleged involvement in the Dattapeetha issue in Chikmagalur. Over 150 activists were accused of rioting, unlawful assembly, making inflammatory speeches, inciting communal violence and violating prohibitory orders. Mutalik was among the accused in most cases. These were filed between 2004 and 2006.

Earlier, the JD(S)-BJP coalition government withdrew 51 cases against Bajrang Dal activists on August 23, 2007. These were filed in Haveri, Shimoga, Belgaum, Bijapur, Mandya, Bagalkot, Dharwad, Kodagu, Uttara Kannada and Dakshina Kannada. Mutalik was wanted in many of these.

The government has also withdrawn some major cases in which Mutalik was the main accused, including the one filed by the Hosanagar police in Shimoga district where he made an inflammatory speech inciting communal hatred.

The other important case was relating to the speech he and VHP leader Praveen Togadia made at the Virat Hindu Samavesha in Bijapur on July 27, 2003. Mutalik insulted the minorities and thereby violated the warning by the High Court that they should not make inflammatory speeches directed at minorities. He was the then south India convener of the Hindu Parishat. Circle inspector C A Koravar had filed cases under 153A, 153B and 295A of the IPC (crime no. 69/03).

Mutalik made another controversial speech in Honnavar in Uttara Kannada district on September 10, 2004. Leaders like Vasanth Bhosle and Suresh spoke at the Hindu Jagruti meet in the town panchayat hall. Police sub inspector M V Nayak filed a case against Mutalik and seven others under sections 153A and 109 of the IPC (crime no.115/04).

Later, in Indi in Bijapur district on February 1, 2004, Mutalik threatened Muslims as thet were supporting terrorists. A case was filed against him under Sections 153A, 295A and 34 IPC.

