Bengaluru: The state home ministry on Wednesday submitted a report to Assembly Secretariat explaining the reasons for failing to execute the order to arrest Ravi Belagere of Hai Bangalore and Anil Raj of Yelahanka Voice so far for breach of privilege.

Additional Chief Secretary of the Home department Subash Chandra, Director General and Inspector General of Police R.K. Dutta and Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Praveen Sood met Assembly Secretary S Murthy and explained the steps taken by the department to execute the orders for arresting the two journalists.

It may be recalled the State Assembly had passed the resolution against Ravi Belagere, editor of Hai Bangalore, and Anil Raj, editor and publisher of Yelahanka Voice, for breach of privilege based on the complaint filed by Assembly members BM Nagaraj (Siruguppa) and SR Vishwanath (Yealahnaka) respectively. The resolution has recommended imprisonment of the two journalists for one year and imposition of a fine of Rs10,000.

Acting on the directions of Speaker Koliwad, Assembly Secretary Murthy had sought an action taken report to be submitted from Home Department on Wednesday and Subash Chandra submitted the report stating the reasons for the delay in executing the order.

However, the Assembly Secretariat Secretary refused to divulge the details of the report submitted by the Home Department.

“The report will be forwarded to Speaker Koliwad. The Speaker is empowered to decide future course of action in the case,” he said.