A controversy erupted in Karnataka after the daughter of sitting BJP MLA B Suresh Gowda was allegedly involved in an altercation with a woman police sub-inspector (PSI) at a temple in Mandya district. The incident is being investigated as it took place at Bhima Amavasya on the eve of the festival of Bhima Amavasya and an FIR has been filed against the MLA's daughter; a counter complaint has also been filed.
As per the police officer's complaint, the incident occurred at 8.15 pm on August 12 at Arathi Ukkada temple in Srirangapatna taluk. PSI Savitha B of Mandya Women’s Police Station was deployed at the temple as part of special security arrangements for the religious event.
The complaint alleges that Aishwarya, daughter of Tumakuru Rural MLA B Suresh Gowda and wife of ACP Gautham, approached the temple seeking darshan. The dispute was allegedly launched after she was asked to wait before being allowed to enter the sanctum sanctorum.
The PSI claimed that the dispute became worse after Aishwarya hit her and questioned the delay in allowing her to have darshan. The police complaint also says that she slapped the PSI, assaulted her and interrupted her official duties. Threats were also issued in the encounter, it says.
After the complaint, an FIR was registered at Kyathanahalli Police Station under Sections 132, 115(2), 352 and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The sections of the charges were obstruction of a public servant, assault and criminal intimidation.
But there are two sides. Mandya Superintendent of Police said a counter-complaint was also made by Aishwarya. In her complaint, she alleged the PSI physically abused her in the argument. The competing complaints will mean investigators will have to investigate the circumstances of the encounter and the consequences of the exchange.
The incident has also taken a political turn after MLA B Suresh Gowda publicly apologised for his daughter’s alleged conduct. Gowda said his daughter had visited the temple with her two children and had sought permission to enter the sanctum sanctorum for darshan.
According to the MLA, police personnel initially did not allow his daughter to enter, while a circle inspector was allowed inside. Gowda said that his daughter later identified herself as the MLA's daughter, and she was verbally abused by the PSI.
The tension between the two women grew and turned physical and violent, he said. Gowda said he had not seen the video that shows his daughter slapping the police officer personally. Gowda does regret what happened though and has apologised publicly.
“I apologise. I am sorry for it,” Gowda said when asked about the issue.
The incident has raised the topic of what public representatives and their family members should do when dealing with police in the field. At the same time, the counter-complaint has made clear that investigators need to establish the whole sequence of events and not only the individual side’s complaints.
Temple premises can see large crowds on large religious occasions and the crowd management and security arrangements are especially sensitive. Police workers who work in the vicinity of such places keep order as well as control access and disputes over entry and darshan may get involved.
Based on the complaints filed by both sides, the case will now be investigated by the police. Any available CCTV footage, videos of the incident, eyewitness accounts and statements from the people present at the temple could be important in establishing what happened during the confrontation.
And the controversy is on top of wider public inquiry into the possible abuse of political power in interaction with government officials. Gowda’s apology can at least mitigate immediate political fallout, though the legal process will determine whether his daughter’s allegations are founded.
For now, both the alleged assault of the PSI and the counter-allegations against the officer remain matters of investigation. Evidence from the temple and statements from those involved will result in the investigation, police sources said.
