Mandya (Karnataka): A court in Karnataka’s Mandya district on Thursday rejected the bail plea of Aishwarya, daughter of BJP MLA Suresh Gowda, in connection with the alleged assault of a woman police sub-inspector (PSI) at a temple at the Arati Ukkada pilgrimage site.
The Srirangapatna Town Court in Mandya, while hearing the bail plea, reportedly questioned the act of assaulting a police officer who was on duty.
Aishwarya had allegedly slapped the woman PSI after the police officer objected to her being allowed to stand close to the deity. The incident, which was captured on video, subsequently went viral on social media.
Following the incident at the Sri Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy Temple in Arathi Ukkada in Srirangapatna taluk on August 12, when thousands of devotees gathered during Bhima Amavasya celebrations, an FIR was registered at the Kyatanahalli police station. However, the police have not arrested Aishwarya, who is also the wife of Mandya Deputy Superintendent of Police Gowtham, so far.
Aishwarya, in her defence, has alleged that the police officer used abusive language and made her two children stand amid the crowd. She had also claimed that the complaint she submitted to the police was not registered.
The rejection of her bail plea comes amid questions over the police action in the case. Despite the FIR being registered following the August 12 incident, her arrest is yet to take place.
With the court rejecting her bail plea, attention is now on the next course of action by the police in the case.
According to the complaint, the MLA’s daughter attempted to enter the sanctum sanctorum through the VIP queue. PSI Savitha B., deployed for security duty, stopped her.
The PSI reportedly told Aishwarya that the temple was crowded and she could not enter then. During the exchange, Circle Inspector Lakshmi, who was performing duty in plain clothes, proceeded towards the sanctum. Aishwarya questioned why the Circle Inspector was allowed to enter, and Savitha explained that Lakshmi was entering as part of her official duty.
This reportedly led to a heated argument, during which Aishwarya allegedly slapped Savitha. Following the incident, Savitha filed a complaint, and the Kyathanahalli police registered a case under Sections 132, 115(2), 352 and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and began an investigation.
Suresh Gowda, who represents the Tumakuru Rural Assembly constituency, had apologised for his daughter’s conduct and also called for the abolition of the VIP darshan system in temples.
He said he had advised her to remain calm in public life. “The incident has happened at a bad moment. I apologise for what my daughter did. An FIR has been lodged in the case, and I will look into it,” he said.
(IANS)
