Under pressure from many quarters, the Karnataka government on Monday deferred the arrest of journalists Ravi Belagere and Anil Raju, who were sentenced to one year in prison by the legislative assembly over alleged defamatory articles.

Within hours of the decision, Belagere mysteriously disappeared from a private hospital in Dharwad where he was being treated. This set off speculation that police had arrested him. However, Bengaluru police commissioner Praveen Sood scotched the rumour.

CM Siddaramaiah, who also holds the home portfolio, has advised police not to arrest Belagere and Raju.The journalists have been accused of writing defamatory articles about the assembly speaker and a few legislators, including a member of the House Privileges Committee that has recommended the punishment.