Cong MLA booked for alleged assault of constables in bar brawl

A ruling Congress MLA in Karnataka and his six followers have been slapped with a criminal case for alleged assault of two police constables who objected to their party continuing past midnight at a bar here.

Hungund MLA Vijayanand Kashappanavar (42) was booked along with supporters on the charge of assault of constables Kiran Kumar and Prashanth Naik past midnight on July 2, Police Commissioner Raghavanedra Auradkar said here today.

IPC sections 143 (unlawful assembly), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), 323 (simple assault) and 353 (obstructing a public servant from doing his duty) have been invoked against the MLA and his supporters, police said.

Kashappanavar claimed he did not assault any of the constables and had only told them he would report the incident to Home Minister K J George.

The MLA also said he had been to the bar with his family to celebrate his birthday on Tuesday and objected to the policemen "clicking photos" when he was "having his dinner".

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the "law will take its own course" with regard to the allegation against the MLA. "Whether it is an MLA or anybody else, whoever... if there is any violation, law will take its own course."

The constables said in their complaint that senior officers sent them to check whether the bar was open past 1am, violating rules, and when they started to click photos, the legislator and his associates, who were partying began to hurl abuses before "manhandling" them.

The Cubbon Park Inspector was also allegedly threatened by the MLA against registering a case, they said.

The complainants also alleged that the legislator forced the bar staff to serve liquor past the stipulated time of 11 pm.

Opposition BJP Leader in the assembly Jagadish Shettar said the government should take immediate action and arrest Kashappannavar. "I condemn the incident. It is against the law. Police have to take serious action. Police have to arrest the Congress MLA," he said.

Former Home Minister R Ashok said the whenever Congress comes to power such incidents often takes place. "The Chief Minister should immediately take action against Kashappannavar," he said.