In the slipper-throwing case of Karnataka MLA Pradeep Eshwar, Chikkaballapur police have arrested four persons for the disruption of a public event in Kannada Bhavan, Chikkaballapur city. They have been arrested for investigation and remanded to the district jail, where the politically sensitive case will be studied.
A Kannada Bhavan public programme was disrupted when a slipper was thrown at MLA Pradeep Eshwar on June 27. Police said the behaviour was accompanied by abusive language and unruly behaviour, leading to chaos in the vicinity and immediate police intervention.
The police identified the four suspects as Mohan Raj (A1), Akhil Reddy (A2), Mahendra (A3), and Prakash (A4), the police said in a statement. Police took the four into custody after getting some initial evidence of the event and investigating their involvement in it. They were taken to Chikkaballapur District Jail under judicial custody, as they were arrested, they said.
Law enforcement officials said that the arrested people are connected to the Janata Dal (Secular) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). But the investigation is not into political affiliations but into criminal acts committed during the event. It is still being investigated to know what role each of the accused played and if more arrests are needed.
Apart from the four arrests, Chikkaballapur Police have also registered a First Information Report (FIR) against about 150 persons involved in the incident. The case was registered suo motu by the Chikkaballapur Town Police after looking into the circumstances of the disturbance.
The FIR has been filed under different sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Sections 189(2), 191(2), 132, 352, 351(3), and 190. Such categories include unlawful assembly, obstruction of public servants, use of criminal force, intentional insult, public disorder, and other related acts. The video footage, photographs, and eyewitness accounts are being reviewed to identify other individuals who may have been involved in the incident.
A political clash was reported during Kempegowda Jayanti celebrations after slippers were allegedly thrown at Congress MLA Pradeep Eshwar while he was on stage.
— Hate Detector 🔍 (@HateDetectors) June 27, 2026
The MLA alleged that the protesters were supporters of JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy.
The incident triggered tension at… pic.twitter.com/jhV2BDBPNY
Investigators will also listen to audio recordings from the venue to establish the sequence of events. CCTV footage and mobile phone videos circulating on social media are also expected to be used to find those present during the alleged disturbance.
The slipper-throwing incident has also attracted political attention in Karnataka, with party leaders coming out strongly against the politician. Though the MLA’s supporters have described it as an unjustified attack against a public representative, opposition voices have called for a fair and impartial investigation to establish the full facts.
Police are warning people that any offence of any kind to violate the law and that no one is allowed to breach the law without the police’s permission. They say that all those still involved in the investigation will be disciplined.
If the FIR had already named about 150 people and the investigation was ongoing, more people could be questioned in the days to come based on evidence gathered by the police. The case will be pursued in line with the law, and every aspect of the incident will be thoroughly investigated before further legal action is initiated, the government said.
