Reprieve for Infosys' Murthy in anthem row

Infosys chief mentor NR Naryana Murthy has been summoned in a criminal case for his alleged insult to the National Anthem.

Infosys chief mentor NR Naryana Murthy on Friday got a nine-week reprieve from appearing before a court in Bangalore that has summoned him in a criminal case for his alleged insult to the National Anthem.

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Karnataka High Court judge Mohan Shantana Goudar stayed the May 26 summons issued by the II Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate to Murthy to appear before him on June 21. The high court will hear the matter further on July 9.

In his petition challenging the summons, Murthy contended that playing instrumental version of the National Anthem did not amount to dishonouring it.

The summons was issued to Murthy on a petition filed by a pro-Kannada organisation that alleged Murthy had insulted the National Anthem by justifying the playing of the instrumental version at an Infosys function in Mysore on the ground that foreigners present there would have been embarrassed.

Murthy's statement had led to a furore and cases were filed against him, though he has since apologised.