Will CMC chief try for stay?

It is not clear as to whether the two will move the High Court challenging the orders of the district administration or submit apology letters.

Little time

The CMC members have will have get a stay by Saturday to escape imprisonment. Otherwise, they will have to present themselves at the district administration office on Monday.

There is speculation that the district administration, which has already decided not to withdraw the arrest warrant under any circumstance, would deal with the CMC members firmly.

Both Lokesh Kumar and Rafique have met Deputy Commissioner Dr N Manjula and explained the situation to her. It is learnt that they also requested her not to take any firm steps against them.

It is also said that Additional Deputy Commissioner G S Naik is under intense political pressure to close the issue and not to press for action.

‘Cannot escape’

A senior officer at the district administration office, however, said that the Council members, who have violated the orders and prevented smooth functioning of Governmental work cannot escape the law.

“Regardless of what they try to do to prove that they are innocent, we have documents and video clippings, which are irrefutable proof of their act,” he said and added that they might be disqualified from their membership of the Council or even imprisoned.

“If they had only provided the JCB vehicle from the Council during the demolition of the Sunkalamma Temple for widening of roads in Bagepalli, they would not have had any problem. But they are in trouble because they not only refused to abide by the orders of the Government but also neglected the orders,” he explained.