JOIN USHigh drama over arrest, release of Bhadravathi MLA
Police arrested Sangameshwar on the charge of assaulting tahsildar Abhijin, after a two-hour effort. He was remanded in judicial custody.
Police resorted to caning the irate supporters who staged a protest opposing the arrest. Tyres were set on fire and unidentified miscreants threw stones on a police vehicle damaging the windshield. Windowpanes of the legislator’s house too were smashed in the melee.
Hospitalised
The legislator in judicial custody was admitted to a private cardiology hospital on complaints of “ill health.” He was presented before the II Judicial Magistrate First Class at 11.30 in the morning.
The court granted him bail with a condition that he shall appear before the court whenever summoned, among others.
Public prosecutor H D Anandkumar opposed the bail application.
Undeclared bundh
There was undeclared bundh in the City on Friday as the news of the arrest spread. Shops and commercial establishments did not open and traffic was sparse on roads.
The taluk administration had clamped prohibitory orders to maintain law and order. However, the supporters of the MLA took him in a procession from the court soon after he was granted bail.
Earlier, Leader of the Opposition Siddaraiamah, Congress leaders D K Shivakumar and hundreds of party workers took out a procession from the Circuit House and laid a siege to the SP’s office.
Siddaramaiah termed the arrest “politically motivated” and alleged that Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has put pressure on the police to arrest the legislator.
Speaking to reporters, Sangameshwar said his arrest was a conspiracy hatched by Yeddyurappa and Rajya Sabha member Ayanur Manjunath.
Sangameshwar reportedly attempted to assault tahsildar over not including the names of two voters in the voters’ list for election to Agriculture Produce Market Committee, on April 25.
Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa speaking to reporters in Mangalore denied his role in the arrest of Sangameshwar. Refuting the Congress allegation, he said Sangameshwar had been arrested on the charge of “misbehaving” with tahsildar and there was no role of his son, Raghavendra in the episode.