Here are the big stories from Karnataka today

Members of Kannada Raksha Vedike stage a protest against actor Kamal Haasan for his remarks on the Kannada language, in Bengaluru on May 29, 2025.
| Photo Credit: PTI

1. Screening of films cannot be threatened with arson, violence: Supreme Court on ‘Thug Life’

The Supreme Court on June 17, 2025 upheld the rights of filmmakers and theatre owners to release movies without threats of arson and violence while making it clear that the Karnataka government must protect Kamal Haasan’s right to screen ‘Thug Life’ in the State. “We cannot have mobs and vigilante groups take over our streets. We cannot allow this to happen. Rule of law must prevail,” Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, heading a Vacation Bench also comprising Justice Manmohan, addressed the Karnataka government side.

Following the development, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar appealed to Kannada activists to abide by the SC order. Kannada activists have been up in the arms against the screening of the movie after the 70-year-old actor’s comments about Kannada language sparked a major controversy. They staged protests, lodged police complaint and warned film theatres not to screen the movie, alleging that Haasan insulted Kannada without knowing its rich history.

2. Bengaluru stampede: BJP leaders taken into custody during attempt to lay siege to CM’s residence

Many BJP leaders were taken into custody by the police in Bengaluru as they tried to lay siege to the official residence of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah demanding his resignation, as well as that of Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, in connection with the stampede in the city during RCB’s victory celebrations that claimed 11 lives on June 4. 

Those arrested included BJP State unit president B.Y. Vijayendra, Leader of Opposition in Assembly R. Ashok, and Leader of Opposition in Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, and former Deputy Chief Minister C. N. Ashwath Narayan. The leaders and party workers were taken into custody when they started marching towards the CM’s official residence after holding a protest at Freedom Park.

3. Karnataka rains: Water level, storage in reservoirs goes up, lan

The inflow into reservoirs has been on the rise following heavy rains in the Malnad region of Karnataka. The water level in Linganamakki reservoir in Sagar taluk of Shivamogga district increased by over three feet within 24 hours, and the quantity of water increased by almost 4 TMC. The water level in the reservoir stood at 1,769.7 ft at 8 a.m on June 17. The level was 1,766.4 ft. on June 16. The quantity of water on June 17 was 39.15 TMC (25.82%), as against 35.01 TMC on June 16.

A landslip at Doddathappale, in Sakleshpur taluk of Hassan district on National Highway 75, connecting Bengaluru and Mangaluru, disrupted movement of vehicles at night on June 16. Many vehicles were stuck on the highway for several hours. The local authorities managed to clear the highway for vehicles by June 17 morning. The stretch is part of the Shiradi Ghat, which has been witnessing repeated landslips for the past couple of years.

4. Karnataka CM seeks list of leaders who resigned after deaths in BJP-ruled States

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has dared the opposition BJP to release a list of leaders who resigned following stampedes in BJP-rules States before demanding that he and Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar bow out.

Citing the Gujarat riots in 2002, terrorist attack in Pahalgam in J&K in which 26 persons lost their lives, violence in Manipur, Morbi bridge collapse that claimed 140 lives in Gujarat, and death of 30 pilgrims during the Maha Kumbh Mela in Uttar Pradesh in January 2025, Mr. Siddaramaiah questioned the credibility of the BJP’s protest and the demand for his and Mr. Shivakumar’s resignation.