The Second Additional District and Sessions Court in the city has acquitted two Yakshagana artists who were facing charges of caste abuse under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The case was registered in connection with the Yakshagana performance titled ‘Brahma Balandi’, staged under the Karnataka Mela troupe. The programme was organised at the Town Hall by artist Poornesh. The names of the characters, originally created by writer Anantharama Bangadi, were printed as they were in the pamphlets distributed during the event.

Leaders of certain Dalit organisations had filed a complaint with the police, alleging that the mention of those character names amounted to caste insult under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Following the complaint, police registered a case against Poornesh and Mijaru Thimmappa under the relevant provisions of the Act and later filed a chargesheet before the court.

After a detailed trial and hearing arguments from both sides, Judge Jagadeesh V.N. delivered the verdict acquitting the accused of all charges.

Advocate Shashiraj Rao Kavoor appeared on behalf of the artists.