Is Anantkumar Hegde Facing Charges in Karnataka?

Bengaluru, June 24 (NationPress) Former Union Minister and prominent BJP figure Anantkumar Hegde has been charged with reportedly assaulting a family, which includes an elderly woman, while also employing communal slurs in Karnataka, as confirmed by police on Tuesday.

The Deputy Superintendent of Police has conducted an interrogation of Hegde.

As per police reports, Hegde claimed that the altercation began after the complainant's vehicle made contact with his while attempting to overtake.

Hegde asserted that, despite being in the vehicle, he did not physically harm the complainant or his relatives.

An FIR has been lodged against Hegde by the Dobbaspet police under various sections, including 117(2) (voluntarily causing grievous hurt), 126(2) (wrongful restraint), 74 (assault or criminal force against a woman), 351(3) (criminal intimidation), and 352(3)(5) (intentional insult aimed at provoking a breach of peace) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act.

This incident reportedly transpired on Monday evening along the Bengaluru–Pune National Highway (NH-48) near Shuttaria College in Halenijagal, Sompura Hobli, Bengaluru district.

The FIR was filed following a complaint made by Saif Khan, a businessman from Halenahalli in Nelamangala town.

Hegde is identified as the primary accused in the FIR. His gunman is listed as the second accused, the driver of the vehicle as the third, and an unidentified individual as the fourth.

According to the FIR, Khan was traveling in a car with three family members, including his mother, en route to a wedding.

Another vehicle overtook them, and one of its occupants signaled Khan to stop, purporting to be from the department, the complainant reported.

"Upon stopping, Khan was allegedly punched in the face and body by a man claiming to be a gunman. Another individual supposedly pulled Salman Khan, who was seated next to him, out of the car and struck him, causing three of his teeth to be knocked out," the FIR states.

"Subsequently, another person exited the vehicle, and upon seeing us, remarked, 'They are Muslims', and began to attack us. I recognized him as former MP Anantkumar Hegde. Upon his arrival, the others surrounded our vehicle. When I inquired about the reason for their aggression, Anantkumar Hegde resorted to abusive language and communal slurs, seized my mother by the neck, yanked her by her clothing, struck her, and she fell to the ground," the complainant recounted.

"The gunman then brandished a pistol, threatening to shoot us. Anantkumar Hegde also struck my father-in-law, breaking two of his teeth," the complainant added.

BJP MLA from Tumakuru Rural, Suresh Gowda, promptly arrived at the scene.

MLA Gowda stated, "Hegde, who has represented the Karwar Lok Sabha constituency for five terms, was traveling from Hubballi to Bengaluru. The complainant was driving recklessly. Later, Hegde advised them to drive safely. At that moment, a confrontation ensued, and they attempted to attack him. The gunmen intervened to prevent this. I have spoken with the Muslim family involved."

"I told them that such incidents of road rage are not uncommon during travel, and politics should not be involved. I encouraged them to settle the matter through dialogue. However, local leaders seem to be politicizing the situation. The Congress government is known for its appeasement politics. We suspect that there is an intention to arrest Anantkumar Hegde. A conspiracy appears to be in play," MLA Gowda alleged.

In the meantime, the complainant's family and relatives have organized a protest concerning the delay in Hegde's arrest.