Bengaluru, DHNS: Citing legal complications, the state government has said that it would not be possible to immediately withdraw cases against innocent people arrested during the Mahadayi protests on July 29.

All that it could do for the moment is to work towards getting the falsely accused out on bail, said Home Minister G Parameshwara.

The government will also not oppose the bail plea filed by the arrested under IPC Section 307. On Wednesday, the state Cabinet resolved to authorise Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T?B Jayachandra and Parameshwara to take steps to get the innocent people released on bail.

Parameshwara, who addressed the media after the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, said that 187 cases had been registered under 25 FIRs (first information report) and seven of them are non-bailable for offences.

He said that according to the law, cases cannot be withdrawn till they are investigated, charge sheets filed and the matter is heard in court.

“These procedures cannot be bypassed. There are no shortcuts. Hence, it has been decided to look into other means to get the innocent people out on bail,” he said. When asked how long it might take for them to be released, he said it would be difficult to stipulate a time frame as there were legal processes involved.

He also said that the investigating team headed by IPS officer Kamal Pant, has been given an additional 15 days to submit its report. The team is investigating police atrocities during the protests. The team has been asked to submit its report in a month’s time.

CM upset

Not convinced by the explanation given by the officials about the complications involved in withdrawing the cases, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is learnt to have been taken them to task during the Cabinet meeting.

According to sources, Siddaramaiah, upset by the police filing cases against a large number of innocent people, is said to have reprimanded officials. Stating that it is wrong to have targeted women, students and the elderly during the protests, Siddaramaiah is learnt to have told officials to do everything possible to get the cases withdrawn immediately.