Bengaluru, 9 Jan

The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday said that it will not stay further probe or provide interim protection to spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who has been accused in an FIR for alleged encroachment of Bengaluru’s public land, sources said.

According to the sources, during the hearing of a petition filed by Shankar seeking dismissal of the FIR, Justice M Nagaprasanna said that stopping the investigation at the current stage would be contrary to the earlier directions given by the division bench that ordered action against the encroachers.

Ravi Shankar had allegedly encroached on public land, including constructions over a rajakaluve (storm water drain) connecting lakes in parts of Kaggalipura Village, Uttarahalli Hobli, in Bengaluru South Taluk.

The bench said, “To stall any kind of investigation now would be running counter to what the Division Bench observes and permitting the appropriate authorities to act against the encroachers. Therefore, without looking into the records, it would not be appropriate to pass any protective order at this juncture. Petitioner is at liberty to move, in the event any notice of investigation is issued upon the petitioner.”

The court has listed the matter for further consideration on 12 January, said sources.

According to the sources, Shankar had been made a respondent in the Public Interest Litigation, and was later named as an accused in 2025.