Unusual courtroom act: CCTV footage allegedly showed the woman sprinkling white mustard seeds on the judge's chair before proceedings began.
Law invoked: Police charged her under Karnataka’s 2017 anti-superstition law, which targets harmful and exploitative practices.
Motive under probe: Investigators suspect the act aimed to influence a civil case outcome and are looking into related circumstances.
CCTV footage leads to arrest in Karnataka courtroom
The incident in Chikkaballapur’s 1st Additional Senior Civil Judge and JMFC Court came to light when surveillance cameras allegedly captured 65-year-old Manjula scattering white mustard seeds on the judge’s dais. Court officials reviewed the footage and alerted police, leading to her arrest two days later. The video has since circulated widely on social media, amplifying public attention on the case. The Times of India
Why this arrest matters for Karnataka's anti-superstition law
Manjula has been booked under the Karnataka Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices and Black Magic Act, 2017, a law designed to curb exploitative and superstitious practices. Its application in a courtroom setting is rare, highlighting the law’s reach beyond domestic or rural contexts. The case may set a precedent for how such acts are prosecuted when linked to judicial proceedings. Hindustan Times
Police probe motive and possible accomplices
According to preliminary findings, the act was allegedly intended to secure a favourable judgment in a civil dispute involving the accused. Police are reviewing how she entered the courtroom and performed the ritual before proceedings began. They are also checking if any other factors or individuals played a role in the incident. Times Now
From mustard seeds to judicial custody
Following a complaint by Chief Administrative Officer Nethra, police registered a case, arrested Manjula, and presented her before a magistrate. She has been remanded to 14 days of judicial custody while the investigation continues. Authorities are now piecing together the sequence of events, from her entry into the courtroom to the alleged ritual. NDTV 24x7
