Two days after Mohammed Haris Nalapad and his henchmen assaulted a Bengaluru man, gravely injuring him, another Congress leader has been accused of misusing his power.
A video, which was released to the media on Tuesday morning, shows former KR Puram block Congress President Narayanaswamy, a close associate of KR Puram MLA Byrathi Basavaraj, threatening to set the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike ward office in Horamavu on fire.
Congress MLA Byrathi Basavaraj's associate, Narayanaswamy, threatened to set BBMP ward office on fire as the revenue officer allegedly did not sign off on a fake katha document. @thenewsminute pic.twitter.com/SmN3PqQdBr
— Theja Ram (@thejaram92) February 20, 2018
Narayanaswamy is seen splashing petrol inside the office premises and on Assistant Revenue Officer Chengal Rayappa, and demanding that one of his associates bring him the papers which needed to be signed.
Speaking to TNM, an official who was at the BBMP office that day said that Narayanaswamy was involved in a land dispute in the NRI Layout in Horamavu and the case was being heard in the City Civil Court.
“Narayanaswamy wanted the Assistant Revenue Officer’s signature on a katha document, which would attest to him being the property owner. He had refused multiple times and, on February 16, he took his threats to the next level. He had come prepared as he had a bottle of petrol with him and he started throwing it inside the office and also on Chengal Rayappa,” the BBMP officer added.
He said that Chengal Rayappa was transferred the very next day and that he was also threatened against registering a complaint with the police.
However, BBMP Joint Commissioner Poornima Vasanti said that when the incident came to light on February 16, officials had advised Chengal Rayappa to register a complaint.
“We had advised him to file a complaint, and MLA Basavaraj also contacted Narayanaswamy and reprimanded him. The MLA said that they would settle the matter among themselves,” Poornima said.
Speaking to TNM, Ramamurthy Nagar Police Inspector Chandradhar said that no one had registered a complaint and that the police had obtained information about the incident only after the video surfaced in the media.
“I am going to meet my higher ups and after that, take a call on registering a suo motu complaint,” the Inspector added.
Meanwhile, Narayanaswamy has refused to acknowledge that he did anything wrong. Speaking to the media, he said that he was the aggrieved party in the incident.
“Why is everyone bent on making me look bad? I have been running from pillar to post to get one document signed and the BBMP officials have been dodging me. I was really angry and, in a fit of rage, I may have done what I did. But I did not actually want set fire to the office. If I had known that this was how the BBMP officers worked, then I would have taken up the matter with their higher-ups sooner. I always follow the right path and I am not the one to be blamed here. I don’t think I did anything wrong,” Narayanaswamy said.
Speaking to the media, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that Naranaswamy must be arrested.
"No one is above the law. If Narayanaswamy has committed a crime, then he has to be arrested," the CM said.
Responding to the outrage against the incident, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee's President Dr G Parameshwara said that Narayanaswamy has been suspended.
I have instructed our Bengaluru District North District Congress Committee (DCC) to immediately suspend Narayanswamy.
— Dr. G Parameshwara (@DrParameshwara) February 20, 2018