An FIR has been registered against Koppala district-in-charge minister Shivraj Tangadgi for allegedly misbehaving with a woman who was part of a protest.

On Monday, advocate Sandhya Maadinooru lodged a complaint with the Koppala town police alleging that the minister had misbehaved with her and abused the protesters.

The alleged incident of misconduct occurred on Sunday when a group of people belonging to several organizations was protesting against civic authorities over a delay in road construction in the town.

When the protesters were near the Gowri Shankar Temple, Tangadgi met with them and abused the group.

Vijaya Karnataka reported that in her complaint, she said, “The minister spoke with the protesters in an inappropriate manner. I protested against this and told him to speak courteously. At this moment, he caught my hand and behaved inappropriately with me.”

She said that the minister did not pay any heed to her or her fellow protestors who objected to the minister’s misbehavior and added, “He told the police to lathi charge us and file a complaint.”

Tangadgi told Vijaya Karnataka, “The public and media were present; I did not misbehave with anyone. There’s a video recording, too.”

The minister has been booked under sections of 354 (outraging the modesty of a woman), 323 (hurt) and 504 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).