The Central Crime Branch (CCB), which filed a chargesheet against Nalapad Haris and seven others for attacking a patron at a restaurant in Bengaluru on February 17, has recorded the statements of as many as 23 witnesses. According to witness accounts, Nalapad let it be known that his father was MLA N.A. Haris before instructing his associates to ‘teach’ the victim, Vidvat, a lesson.
Elaborating on the incident, the chargesheet said the argument started when Nalapad, while entering Farzi Cafe, brushed against Vidvat's right leg, which was fractured and in a cast. Vidvat was with his friends.
This sparked an argument between the two groups, which ended with Haris and his friends attacking the victim, allegedly using beer bottles and an ice bucket to hit him.
The chargesheet quoted a witness saying that Nalapad was shouting: “I will show you who I am if you don't hold my leg and kiss my feet. If you don't say sorry, then I will kill you here."
Cafe staff and bouncers, and some of Vidvat's friends, intervened and took him to the first floor to save him from further attack. He was later admitted to Mallya Hospital, but Nalapad and the other accused followed him there.
Another witness informed the police that Nalapad threatened Vidvat’s brother. It was only after hearing the hospital staff screaming in panic that the attackers left.
Witness statements
Abhishek Gowda, son of actor-turned-politician M.H. Ambareesh, was one of the witnesses and gave his statement to the CCB.
According to the police, Abhishek was at the bar counter with his friends when he saw Nalapad enter the cafe around 10.30 p.m. They exchanged greetings. A few minutes later, he saw Nalapad quarrelling with another patron. Soon the group led by Nalapad started attacking the other patron. When Abhishek tried to intervene, Nalapad asked him to back off. He saw the attackers demand that Vidvat apologise by touching Nalpad's feet.
Inspector Ashwath Gowda J., investigating officer from the CCB, also questioned and recorded the statement of Guru Rajkumar, son of actor and producer Raghavendra Rajkumar. Guru told police that he was heading towards Farzi Cafe to meet Vidvat that night. As he was reaching Chinnaswamy stadium, he got a call alerting him about the attack. When Guru reached the basement of the cafe around 11 p.m., he saw Vidvat being taken to Mallya Hospital.
The police are yet to arrest four of the accused who are on the run.
