Police will probe if Haris Jr had guns, says minister Reddy

Police will investigate  whether  Shanthinagar legislator N A Haris's son, Mohammed Haris Nalapad, illegally possessed firearms,  Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy said on Monday.  

But he made it clear that just because Nalapad had posed with firearms in social media posts, it doesn't mean he is in possession of weapons. "No weapons were found in his possession when his house was searched. I am not trying to defend him. His father (Haris) has a licence. But I will ask the police to investigate this," he told reporters.  

On Saturday, BJP parliamentarian Shobha Karandlaje claimed Nalapad was in illegal possession of  seven  weapons and that the government had not taken action against him. She also accused Haris of trying to influence the course of the  investigation by "pressuring" the police. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, along with  Reddy, even held a meeting with Haris to figure out the means to defuse the situation, she had claimed.  

Reddy denied having any such meeting with  Haris. "I saw him only in the Legislative Assembly during the session recently," he added.  

Admitting that the Nalapad episode had "damaged" the Congress party as well as the government, Reddy said he would ask the police to also explore the 'bitcoin' or 'hawala' angle.  

JD(S) president H D Kumaraswamy had  given a new twist to the assault case. He said the fight had more to do with the bitcoin/hawala racket.  When asked if Nalapad would be included in the history sheet,  Reddy said police would decide on that.  The home minister maintained that police had taken strict action against Nalapad and that Congressmen had condemned the incident.  

'Haris attended review meet on Nalapad case'

The BJP on Monday stuck to its stand that the government was trying to shield Nalapad.  

BJP spokesperson S Suresh Kumar claimed Reddy held a meeting in his office to review the case and had invited Haris. Reddy is "misusing" his office and is answerable to people, he added.