A screengrab from the video
Credit: X/@gharkekalesh
Vijayapura: BJP leader Vijugouda Patil’s son Samarthgouda and his friends allegedly assaulted and abused a staffer of toll booth at Kannoli on Vijayapura-Kalaburagi highway after being asked to pay the toll, on Thursday.
The purported video of Samarthgouda and his friends assaulting the toll booth employee, Sangappa, has gone viral on social media.
Samarthgouda and his friends were travelling to Sindagi from Vijayapura in a Jeep when he was stopped at Kannoli toll booth.
When asked to pay the toll fee, Samarthgouda reportedly told the staff, "Do you know who I am... I am the son of BJP leader Vijugouda Patil.” Samarthgouda and his friends assaulted and abused the toll booth staff when the latter asked “which Vijugouda?”
Sangappa, who sustained injuries in the assault, was rushed to Sindagi taluk hospital.
The toll staff, however, have not lodged a police complaint out of fear. Vijugouda Patil, brother of Minister Shivanand Patil, had unsuccessfully contested the 2023 Assembly elections against M B Patil from Babaleshwar constituency.