India, July 3 -- The High Court of Karnataka on Thursday stayed the state cabinet's decision to withdraw prosecution in 52 criminal cases, including those linked to the 2022 Aland Ladle Mashak Dargah riots.

The bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice K S Hemalekha prima facie found fault with the State's invocation of Section 321 CrPC, violating the earlier order of the HC to seek withdrawal of prosecutions against the accused.

The court issued notice to the state government and the Directorate of Prosecution and directed them to file their responses within two weeks.

Advocate Girish Bharadwaj had petitioned the court to issue a writ of certiorari or any other appropriate writ to quash the Government order dated May 27 directin...