MYSURU: Days after city police filed an FIR against Union minister Anantkumar Hegde for making derogatory comments against chief minister Siddaramaiah, a Congress leader on Thursday demanded the police to arrest the minister since he was arrested under non-bailable offences.
Speaking to media persons here on Thursday, president of district Congress committee B J Vijaykumar said, "It is unbecoming of the Union minister who holds a constitutional post to issue such comments against the chief minister. He should be arrested immediately."
The statement in question which irked several state Congress leaders refers to the time when Hegde said: "Chief minister Siddaramaiah will not hesitate to lick the shoes of anybody for the sake of vote and note."
A miffed Basaraja Naika, the general secretary of Mysuru District Congress Committee, had filed a petition in this regard, following which the court asked the police to follow due procedure. Naika, who had initially lodged a complaint at Devaraja police station here on November 25, was handed over a non-cognisable report (NCR) acknowledgement by the police.
Unhappy with the police action, a panel of lawyers led by Palya Suresh attached to law and human rights wing of district Congress committee filed a private complaint at fourth JMFC court on November 30. The judge who ruled in favour of the plaintiff and directed the police to take further action on the basis of the complaint. Accordingly, police framed charges under sections 153(A) and 504 of IPC and filed an FIR (No 230/2017) against the Union Minister on December 5.