Police waiting to record Vidvat’s statement

‘More people are involved in the assault’

The Cubbon Park police are waiting to record the statement of Vidvat L., who was assaulted by Mohammed Nalapad Haris and his associates.

Vidvat is being treated at Mallya Hospital. So far, seven people, including Mohammed Nalapad, have been arrested. “Investigations revealed that the accused assaulted Vidvat in a fit of rage after his leg touched Mohammed Nalapad, who was sitting at the next table,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Chadragupta.

The police are questioning Mohammed Nalapad and six others who are in custody. “We have verified CCTV footage from in and around the restaurant and recorded statements of the restaurant staff and eyewitnesses. We are waiting for the victim to recover before recording his statement,” said a senior police officer.

Mohammed Nalapad is the prime accused in the attempt to murder and criminal intimidation cases filed against him and others. The other accused are Arun Babu, owner of a juice centre in Austin Town; Manjunath, a driver and bouncer employed by Mohammed Nalapad; Mohammed Ashraf, a graduate; Balakrishna, a driver; Abhishek, a small-time businessman, and Mohammed Nasir, an associate of Nalapad. There are more people involved in the assault, including Srikrishna, who is absconding, the police said.

Several people, including actor Puneeth Rajkumar, visited Vidvat at the hospital on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, two people recalled that Mohammed Nalapad had threatened them too. According to social activist Poornima Rao, he and his associates threatened her at a conference three years ago. She claimed that the police had not received her complaint.

Peter Pramod, who identified himself as a Congress worker, said Mohammed Nalapad had assaulted him last year. He alleged that though the hospital that treated him for injuries had registered a medico-legal case, the police did not take it forward.

One held for attack on journalists

The Cubbon Park police on Tuesday registered a case of assault and criminal intimidation against unknown persons who attacked a group of journalists in front of the police station on Monday. Mahir, 27, from Shanthinagar; Abdul Ayaz, 32, of Anepalya, and Prakash, 34, of Vivek Nagar, were held.