Bengaluru: Editors of weekly Kannada tabloid ‘Hi Bangalore,’ Ravi Belagere and Anil Raj, of ‘Yelahanka Voice,’ were handed a year of imprisonment and Rs. 10,000 each as fine by Assembly Speaker K.B. Koliwad.

He made this announcement in the Assembly on June 20 and instructed the Bengaluru Police to arrest the journalists if they failed to surrender.

Congress MLA from Shiraguppa B.M. Nagaraj had filed complaint with the Privileges Committee of the Assembly against Ravi Belagere for publishing derogatory material about him. The committee recommended imposition of a year of imprisonment on Belagere in addition to a fine of Rs.10,000.

Editor of ‘Yelahanka Voice’ newspaper Anil Raj was facing the allegation of publishing a series of defamatory reports against Yelahanka BJP MLA S.R. Vishwanath.

The privileges committee headed by former Minister Kimmane Rathnakar had recommended a year of imprisonment and fine of Rs.10,000 in the case of Anil Raj. MLA Vishwanath said that editors of some publications have been in the habit of publishing unsubstantiated reports which compromise the dignity of the House.

‘We shall approach court.’ Reacting sharply over the resolution, Anil Raj said that he would appeal against the decision. Similarly, Ravi Belagere told reporters, “There is no need to attach so much importance to this order as we can appeal before the High Court and Supreme Court. I am yet to get a copy of the order. Previously, I was ordered to undergo six months of imprisonment. Soon after Koliwad became Speaker, it has been increased to one year. I have high regards for the Speaker.”