BANGALORE, INDIA: The Karnataka High Court has quashed a case filed against N R Narayan Murthy, chief mentor, Infosys, accusing him of dishonoring the national anthem.
The Karnataka Rakshana Vedike had filed a private compliant before the second additional city metropolitan magistrate against his remarks that instrumental version of the national anthem was played at a function in Infosys's Mysore Campus, as the company did not want to “embarrass” the foreigners present there.
Murthy had contested that playing the instrumental version did not amount to dishonoring the national anthem.
Justice K Bhaktavatsala who heard the case this morning, observed that Murthy did not violate the National Honours Act and no case could be filed against Murthy on this count.
Murthy had moved the High court for quashing the May 26, 2007 order passed by the ACMM in issuing summons to him.
High Court judge Mohan Shantana Goudar stayed the summons issued on May 26 by the ACMM, directing Murthy to appear before him on June 21. The High Court was supposed to take up the matter on July 9.
Murthy’s lawyer said the complaint was misconceived and that the ACMM could not have taken cognizance of it. The remark was made in Mysore and a Bangalore court had taken cognizance of it. However, Murthy still has a case pending in Mysore court.