Karnataka:Police team to search Cong leader: Parameshwara

In Karnataka, Congress leader Rajeev Gowda has been booked for threatening the Shidlaghatta Municipal Commissioner Amrutha Gowda over the removal of his banner from a busy junction in the town in Chikkaballapura district.The police booked Rajeev Gowda on a complaint lodged by Amrutha Gowda. Home Minister G Parameshwara on Saturday said in Bengaluru," We have formed team to search Rajeev Gowda."  

VIDEO | Bengaluru: "Have formed team to search Rajeev Gowda," says Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on delay in arrest of Congress leader Rajeev Gowda for abusing Shidlaghatta Municipal Commissioner Amrutha Gowda.

(Full video available on PTI Videos -… pic.twitter.com/w8W1I2emso

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Rajeev Gowda, who had contested the 2023 Assembly polls on the Congress ticket and lost, has been booked on the charges of threatening a public servant and provoking breach of peace, criminal intimidation and criminal force to determine public servant under various sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. In her complaint, the Shidlaghatta City Municipal Council Commissioner said that under the leadership of Rajeev Gowda, a promotion event was organised, and flex banners/posters carrying his photograph were installed across the town.
As these banners were obstructing public movement and traffic at places, including the fort area of the city, they were removed and kept in the office. After coming to know of this, Rajeev Gowda, on January 12, contacted the Commissioner over her mobile phone and threatened her, saying that the banners should be reinstalled. "He further threatened me in abusive language, stating that if I did not comply, I would have to face consequences, that I would be driven out of the Taluk, that he would incite people to assault officers," Amrutha Gowda said in her complaint. Due to the incident, the Municipal Council employees and civic workers went on a strike for a day on Wednesday, took out a march denouncing the accused and demanded his arrest.
One more FIR was filed by N C Srinivasa Gowda, farmer and taluk vice-president of the JD(S). He alleged that during the same call, Rajeev made provocative statements, abused Shidlaghatta MLA B N Ravikumar, and falsely blamed him for the removal of the banners. The complaint also stated that Rajeev threatened to mobilise people from 31 wards, damage government offices, and incite violence, while making indecent remarks against women government officials. A purported audio of the call circulated widely on social media, raising concerns among residents.
Amid a controversy over the incident, the Karnataka Congress on Thursday issued a show-cause notice to Rajeev for violating party discipline. Karnataka State Women’s Commission Chairperson Nagalaxmi Choudhary while commenting on the development stated, “No one is above the law, be it a public representative or an influential individual." The Karnataka State Commission for Women strongly condemns the use of abusive, obscene language and alleged intimidation against a woman officer.

(State Correspondent)