An Indian court threw out on Tuesday a complaint that the founder of software giant, Infosys Technologies, had insulted the national anthem. Karanataka High Court Judge K. Bhaktavatsala quashed proceedings launched in a lower court in Bangalore, the state capital, that on May 26 issued a summons to N.R. Narayana Murthy, the Press Trust of India reported.
Locals had complained in the lower court against Murthy, an iconic figure in India's 50-billion-dollar information technology industry, alleging he insulted the national anthem. The case related to a visit by then-president Abdul Kalam to an Infosys facility in April when the company played an instrumental version of the anthem Jana Gana Mana, instead of having it sung by the audience. His lawyer contended that Murthy was not guilty of any offence and playing the instrumental version did not break the law, PTI reported.
The Tuesday's court ruling came on the eve of India's independence anniversary when the country celebrates 60 years of freedom from British rule. Murthy told reporters then the company opted for an instrumental version of the anthem so foreigners in the audience were not obliged to mouth the words and feel uncomfortable. Foreign software code writers work at the Indian facilities of Infosys, which derives a lion's share of its revenue from sales abroad.
Murthy apologised in the ensuing furore that saw him targeted by politicians whom he has criticised for doing little to fix infrastructure in Bangalore and other parts of Karnataka.
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