Congress MLA Vijayanand Kashappanavar, accused of assaulting police constables in a bar, attended the afternoon session of the Legislative Assembly on Monday. He continued to argue that he had done no wrong and it was police who committed the mistake.
Kashappanavar drove to Vidhana Soudha after deposing before the City Crime Branch, which is investigating the case. As thought to show their solidarity, several Congress MLAs greeted Kashappanavar as he entered the Assembly hall. Energy Minister D K Shivakumar, Priyank Kharge, Tanveer Sait, J R Lobo and others shook hands with a smiling Kashappanavar.
In the evening, Kashappanavar had coffee at the Assembly lounge and appeared unruffled by the police investigation against him. “I made a mistake by going out to dinner with my family,” he said sarcastically.
His side of the story
Initially, Kashappanavar was reluctant to speak, but later opened up. “We were having a quiet dinner, when the cops started filming us. I objected politely telling them it was intrusion into our privacy.
However, when they continued filming, I told them that being a legislator I will have to report their behaviour to the Speaker. One thing led to another and now they have booked a false case against me.”
After the close of the session, Kashappanavar met Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa and is said to have explained his position to him.
Earlier in the day, BJP members staged a walkout in the Legislative Assembly alleging that ruling Congress had been protecting Kashappanavar.
Leader of the Opposition Jagadish Shettar alleged that theMLA had not been arrested despite enough proof against him. CCTV footage of the incident show that he slapped police constables. Statements of eyewitnesses have been recorded. It was clear that the ruling party has been protecting him, he charged.
Background
The incident happened on July 2 midnight at Skyye bar at the UB City in Bangalore. The MLA and his friends had allegedly assaulted two constables for trying to videograph them consuming liquor at the bar beyond the stipulated time.
Earlier, replying on the issue Home Minister K J George maintained that the police have been given complete freedom in the investigation and assured that all steps will be taken to punish the guilty.
In the Legislative Council, BJP leader K S Eshwarappa in a sardonic tone said, “An MLA from the ruling party boozes and assaults the police and next day the police assault farmers.”
