Smut-tainted Karnataka ministers could be jailed under IT Act: cyber law expert

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Three Karnataka ministers who were caught watching porn in the state assembly could face jail under the Information Technology Act, according to a cyber law expert.

Supreme Court advocate and president of Cyber law Asia, Pavan Duggal told Express on Thursday that the three ministers -- Laxman Savadi, C C Patil and J Krishna Palemar --- caught on television cameras viewing obscene clips on the floor of Karnataka legislative assembly could face jail and one of them even a non-bailable warrant.

He said while no law bans watching pornography but Savadi and Patil can be booked under Section 292 of Information Technology Act for sale, distribution, public exhibition, etc., of an obscene object and let off lightly but the third minister J Krishna Palemar, who was in possession of the mobile phone, is vulnerable and he could even get a non-bailable warrant if a complaint is registered against him.

Palemar can be charged under section 67 and section 67 A of Information Technology Act for publishing or transmitting or causing to be published in the electronic form any material which is lascivious or appeal to the puririent interest.

Palemar can be convicted with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years and with fine which may extend to five Rs lakh.  He can also face non-bailable warrant besides Rs five lakh fine under section 67 A, said Duggal.

Interestingly, till now no complaint has been filed against the ministers under the Information Technology Act, he added.