Bengaluru, Jan. 23 -- The Karnataka High Court has declined to quash a criminal case filed against Congress leader Rajeev Gowda over allegations that he verbally abused and threatened a woman Municipal Commissioner after she removed promotional banners for a Minister's son's film in Sidlaghatta.

Justice M Nagaprasanna, hearing the matter, observed that offensive language directed at a woman public servant performing her official duties warrants a formal investigation.

The Court noted that no one has the right to intimidate or abuse a public servant for carrying out lawful duties, and that the complainant being a woman amplified the severity of the alleged insults.

The Court stated that no individual can claim a license to intimidate or a...