BANGALORE: A local court in Bangalore has asked Chief Mentor of Infosys Technologies N.R. Narayana Murthy to appear before it on June 21 in connection with his statement on the national anthem made recently in Mysore.
The second Additional City Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Mujahidullah passed the order on the complaint filed by Raghavendra Tirthahalli of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV).
During the visit of President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam to the Infosys campus in Mysore on April 8, Mr. Narayana Murthy had reportedly said that the instrumental version of the national anthem was played to avoid embarrassment to foreigners.
As his remarks stirred a hornet’s nest, Mr. Narayana Murthy had apologised, saying "if the media statement has hurt anybody’s sentiments, I deeply apologise." Mr. Tirthahalli filed a private complaint before the ACMM court stating that Mr. Narayana Murthy had intentionally prevented singing of the national anthem, which was an offence under Section 3 of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act 1971.
According to the Act, an offender shall be imprisoned for a term which may extend up to three years. Mr. Tirthahalli said he had approached the court after the Tilaknagar police here refused to register the case. The court recorded the statements of Mr. Tirthahalli and two other witnesses before issuing summons to Mr. Narayana Murthy.
http://www.hindu.com/2007/05/28/stories/2007052804440400.htm
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