With the Opposition stepping up pressure, Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy told the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday that the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner has been instructed to arrest and file a case against Congress leader Narayanaswamy, who poured petrol on a Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike ward office and threatened to set it on fire.
In reply to the issue raised by the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party during zero hour, Mr. Reddy said the accused, Narayanaswamy, a close associate of Byrati Basavaraj, MLA, had committed a major crime. He had threatened the officials after they refused to register a disputed property in his name, and has been absconding after the video clip of the attack went viral on Tuesday and the BBMP officials filed a police complaint.
Earlier, Leader of the Opposition Jagadish Shettar accused the government of giving protection to the Congress leader and alleged that ‘goonda raj’ prevailed in the city. The police were unable to nab the accused though the incident took place on Friday, he alleged.
Referring to the Home Minister’s adviser, Kempaiah, Mr. Shettar said Mr. Reddy has no control over the Home Department. The “super CM” has been handling the Home Department’s administration, he said.
BJP members S. Suresh Kumar and Y.A. Narayanaswamy hit out at the government for shunting out Assistant Revenue Officer Chengal Rayappa from the BBMP office. Fearing action against them, the officials have declined to give complaints to the government. The government had also punished former Deputy Superintendent of Police Anupama Shenoy for raising her voice against former Minister P.T. Parameshwar Naik in Ballari district, they said.
The government had also shunted out IAS officer C. Shika from Mysuru after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s aide Mari Gowda allegedly abused and threatened her when she was the Mysuru Deputy Commissioner, Mr. Kumar said.
Instead of rewarding Mr. Rayappa, who declined to register a property under litigation, the government transferred him, Mr. Shettar said.
The Congress has suspended Narayanaswamy, who is a member of the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board.
