Political tension culminated in Shidlaghatta after Rajiv Gowda, a State Coordinator for the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), was alleged to have hurled obscene abuses and death threats upon Municipal Commissioner Amrutha Gowda. It all started after the official ordered the removal of illegal hoardings and flex banners promoting Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan’s son, Zaid Khan’s film.
The Conflict: Public Safety vs. Illegal Displays
Commissioner Amrutha Gowda had embarked on a drive to ensure that the Kote Circle roads in Shidlaghatta were rid of illegal banners that had been erected without prior approval. The banners were seen as a serious source of risk for commuters and the public had several complaints regarding traffic visibility and accidents.
In compliance with her office, the Commissioner ordered the removal of these banners. The move reportedly left Rajiv Gowda indignant, since the banners were connected with the promotion of Zaid Khan's new film project.
Shocking Threats and Abuses
A dark turn took the wrong path when the Congress leader apparently called the female officer in a barrage of insults and threats.
" @INCKarnataka ದುರಾಡಳಿತದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ಮುಖಂಡರ ಗೂಂಡಾಗಿರಿ ಜೋರಾಗಿದೆ.
— Janata Dal Secular (@JanataDal_S) January 14, 2026
ಸಚಿವ @BZZameerAhmedK ಪುತ್ರ ಝೈದ್ ಖಾನ್ ಸಿನಿಮಾದ ಪ್ಲೆಕ್ಸ್ʼಗಳನ್ನು ತೆರವುಗೊಳಿಸಿದ್ದಕ್ಕೆ ಶಿಡ್ಲಘಟ್ಟ ನಗರಸಭೆ ಪೌರಾಯುಕ್ತೆ ಅಮೃತಾ ಗೌಡ ಅವರಿಗೆ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ಮುಖಂಡ ರಾಜೀವ್ ಗೌಡ ಅವಾಚ್ಯವಾಗಿ, ಅಶ್ಲೀಲ ಶಬ್ದಗಳಿಂದ ನಿಂದಿಸಿ ಪ್ರಾಣ ಬೆದರಿಕೆ… pic.twitter.com/c65czp6k9j
Rajiv Gowda was said to have threatened to:
- Burn alive the people who knocked down the banners.
- Start a riot by calling party workers for action.
- Physically assault the officer with slippers.
And the audio of the purported call, in which obscene and vulgar language was thrown upon the woman officer, has outraged across the state. Demands for Action. The incident has garnered intense criticism from the opposition and civil society, which say it is a textbook case of “goondaism” under the current administration.
Arrest to be ordered
Activists are calling for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Home Minister G. Parameshwara to arrest Rajiv Gowda for obstructing a public servant and threatening a woman as soon as possible. Action of the party: Pressure is growing upon KPCC President D.K. Shivakumar to oust Rajiv Gowda from the party for his “street-rowdy” antics. Associations of local government employees have expressed solidarity with Commissioner Amrutha Gowda, cautioning that they could protest if the safety of officials is not guaranteed from political meddling.
