The Hindu : Front Page : Complainant's nephew assaulted in front of Raj Bhavan

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Tuesday, Jan 09, 2007
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Complainant's nephew assaulted in front of Raj Bhavan

Special Correspondent

Venkatesh has filed an attempt to murder case against Pejawar seer

SCUFFLE: Srinidhi, nephew of Prof. Venkatesh, being assaulted at Raj Bhavan in Bangalore on Monday. — Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.

BANGALORE: The episode of MES College Sanskrit professor K.S. Venkatesh filing a complaint of attempt to murder against Vishvesha Tirtha Swamiji of Pejawar Math took a curious turn on Monday night.

Amid drama, a group of five persons assaulted the professor's nephew in front of the Raj Bhavan when Prof. Venkatesh was interacting with presspersons after submitting a memorandum to the Governor's office alleging that the police had kept him and his sister in illegal detention since Sunday night besides assaulting him.

He alleged that the police had released him and his sister on Monday evening only after his lawyer filed a habeas corpus petition before the Karnataka High Court.

Even as Prof. Venkatesh was speaking to presspersons along with his sister, Rukmini, and her son, Srinidhi, in front of the Raj Bhavan's main gate, the group of youth rushed to the spot and alleged that Prof. Venkatesh's nephew (Srinidhi) had failed to return a loan of nearly Rs. 1 crore taken from them. Prof. Venkatesh had provided surety for the loan while Srinidhi's mother had submitted the registration certificate of her car to them, the youth claimed, and waved the registration certificate at presspersons.

They dragged Srinidhi and assaulted him. Rukmini, who rushed to the rescue of her son, was pushed aside by the youth who continued assaulting him even as the policemen guarding the Raj Bhavan and passers-by watched on.

The policemen, who were inside the Raj Bhavan compound, rushed outside and rescued Srinidhi. The assaulters said that they had filed a complaint against Srinidhi with the Koramangala police. But Prof. Venkatesh and Srinidhi denied this and termed it as a counter-strategy by their opponents to build pressure on him to withdraw the case against the swamiji. Prof. Venkatesh and the other two were finally taken away by police in a jeep.

Earlier, Prof. Venkatesh alleged that Assistant Commissioner of Police Gangadhar Nayak, who is handling the case of attempt to murder charge against the swamiji, had gone to his relative's house at 10.30 p.m. on Sunday in Abbigere where he was staying. They beat him up and threatened him with dire consequences if he did not withdraw the complaint, he alleged. He charged the police with assaulting his sister Rukmini.

The police had taken both of them to an isolated place and further assaulted them, he alleged. Later, he was kept in Chamarajpet Police station while his sister was kept in a women's police station, Prof. Venkatesh alleged. He appealed to the Governor to ensure that police conducted an impartial inquiry.

When contacted by The Hindu , Mr. Nayak denied Prof. Venkatesh's allegations. He said that the behaviour of these two persons was suspicious. They had turned down the request by the police to visit the police station for the inquiry, he said.

The police have booked a case of attempt to murder against Vishvesha Tirtha Swamiji following a direction by the First Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court. Prof. Venkatesh had filed a petition before the court that the accused had illegally detained, assaulted and threatened to kill him as his friend had failed to return a loan of Rs. 12 lakh taken from the swamiji.

Witnesses

The police are on the lookout for independent witnesses to speak about the financial transaction between Vishvesha Tirtha Swamiji and Prof. Venkatesh.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Alok Kumar said they were looking out for witnesses who could speak without taking sides. He said there were complaints of cheating against Prof. Venkatesh and his relatives.

Mr. Alok Kumar said a complaint against Prof. Venkatesh and his relative, Srinidhi, had been booked in Koramangala police station stating that the two had cheated 20 people. Another complaint has been filed in the Kempegowda Nagar police station.

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