BJP Dalit Morcha member arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting Bengaluru woman
The BJP state executive committee meeting in Gulbarga’s Kalburgi taluk had a shaky start, with Union Minister Sadananda Gowda admitting to dissent in the party.
In addition to the prevailing discomfiture at the party meeting, another event has brought embarrassment to the party.
Bengaluru’s Upparpet Police and Gulbarga’s University Police arrested BJP Dalit Morcha worker, Venkatesh Mourya, in connection with a sexual assault and cheating case, Gulbarga police said.
“Venkatesh Mourya had allegedly promised a Bengaluru woman that he would obtain grants for a 38-year-old woman, who runs an NGO in the city. She had alleged in her complaint, which was filed in October 2016, that Venkatesh had raped her in 2010,” an officer attached with the University Police Station said.
The victim had filed a complaint with the Upparpet Police after which Venkatesh was arrested. He was denied bail on being produced before a magistrate and had absconded, police said.
The Upparpet Police followed Venkatesh to Madhugiri and Hyderabad but had no luck in nabbing him.
“We received information that Venkatesh Mourya was arriving at Kalburgi from Hyderabad to attend the BJP state-level meeting. Venkatesh did not resist arrest and is currently being questioned. Further details will be provided as the case develops,” the officer added.
Venkatesh is a history-sheeter, who has been to prison twice.
“Venkatesh Mourya was in a Kolar prison for a sexual assault case. A few years after his release, he went to prison for a cheating case which was filed in Bengaluru’s Amruthalli Police Station,” Gulbarga SP said.
Venkatesh is currently being questioned for a case registered under sections 376 (rape) and 420 (cheating).
Venkatesh is the fourth BJP member to be embroiled in a scandal this month.
MLA Raju Kage was arrested on January 19 for brutally assaulting Congress worker Vivek Shetty. The MLA and his family members had beaten up Shetty for allegedly posting an insulting comment against Kage’s daughter on Facebook.
Nalin Kumar Kateel, the BJP leader from Mangaluru, known for his diabolical speeches was embroiled in another controversy. On January 17, he had said that BJP has the strength to beat up Communists in Karnataka. Earlier in January, he had threatened to set Dakshina Kannada district on fire.
Another BJP MP Ananth Kumar Hedge was caught on CCTV while brutally assaulting staff of a private hospital in Sirsi.