Karthik Gowda, the 28-year-old son of Railway Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda, accused of raping a film actor, on Saturday moved a city court seeking anticipatory bail even as the victim recorded her statement before a magistrate.
The application seeking bail comes after the R.T. Nagar police, who have already recorded the statement of the actor, issued notice to Mr. Karthik on Friday to appear before the investigating officer for questioning.
The R.T. Nagar police, who went to Mr. Karthik’s residence in Sanjayanagar on Friday, did not find any family members. They issued the summons to the employees to inform their employer to appear before them. Mr. Karthik’s anticipatory bail application has been posted for September 4.
In his bail plea, Mr. Karthik contended that the allegations against him were baseless and aimed at tarnishing the image of his father, who is also a former Chief Minister. He further contended that the complaint did not amount to a cognisable case and hence the FIR was not justified. Alleging that the complainant was an active worker of the Congress, he said that her conduct clearly showed vindictiveness on her part and a political conspiracy to malign the reputation of his father at the behest of political detractors.
In the bail plea, it was also alleged that the complainant had chosen to file a belated complaint after approaching the media with all sorts of allegations, which indicated a planned conspiracy to malign the reputation and harass him and his family members.
Meanwhile, as per procedure, the victim on Saturday gave her statement and submitted the evidence about the alleged rape and cheating, before the 8th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate. The police on Friday recorded her statement at her residence in R.T. Nagar and obtained the evidence to corroborate her claim. The victim had alleged that she was raped at Mr. Karthik’s house in Mangalore.
The victim fainted and collapsed after coming out of the court. She was taken to the hospital, police sources said.
Bangalore Police Commissioner M.N. Reddi said that the police were investigating as per the law and the accused had been summoned.
