Non-bailable warrants reissued against 7 accused in Amruth Raj–Rakesh Shetty case

Bengaluru 

The XLVIII Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Bengaluru City, has reissued Non-Bailable Warrants against accused Nos. 1 to 7 in the criminal case arising from a complaint by BBMP official A Amruth Raj against Rakesh Shetty and others. The court directed to reissue warrants on Tuesday.

It should be noted that Rakesh Shetty, Managing Director, Power TV is currently embroiled in the sting controversy. He is being investigated by a special team comprising the Central Crime Branch (CCB) and Cyber Crime Police. Shetty, infamously known as Karnataka’s CD boy secured interim anticipatory bail in the sting video case registered based on the complaint of former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. 

According to the court’s daily-status record dated October 27, 2026, in C.C. No. 26250/2023, CNR No. KABC030161692023, the court ordered: “Reissue NBW to accused No. 1 to 7 through ACP.” The matter has been posted to December 7, 2026, with “NBW” recorded as the next purpose.

The background to the case is set out in Amruth Raj’s sworn deposition recorded on May 20, 2023, before the I Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Bangalore, in PCR No. 3318/2023. The deposition identifies Amruth Raj as a Revenue Assessor in BBMP’s Hebbal range and records his allegations against Power TV personnel. In the same case, a separate trial is underway in XLVIII Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate.

Amruth Raj alleged that Power TV had earlier demanded ₹5 lakh from him for advertisements intended to portray him positively, which he declined to pay. He claimed that, after obtaining material relating to an earlier bail proceeding, the channel broadcast a defamatory programme against him on March 10, 2023.

The deposition names Rakesh Shetty, M R Suresh, Editor; Leena Shree Poojari, Anchor; Shashidhar Malanadalli, Reporter; Pranuth Ganija, Anchor; and Raghava Surya, Anchor, and associates them with accused numbers A1 and A3 to A7.

The complainant further alleged that the programme was repeatedly telecast, uploaded to Facebook and YouTube and circulated among BBMP employees through WhatsApp. He said the broadcast caused severe mental distress and affected his health.

The deposition also refers separately to an earlier PCR proceeding before the VII ACMM Court involving Manjula, in which Amruth Raj impleaded as A6 and Rajagopalnagar Police registered Crime No. 61/2023. 

Amruth Raj produced a CD of the disputed broadcast as Exhibit C1 and a Section 65B certificate as Exhibit C2, seeking action against the accused. 

The latest order reissuing NBWs marks a significant procedural development. The allegations remain subject to adjudication.