Vivek Shetty, who was brutally assaulted in Belagavi by relatives of BJP MLA Raju Kage, has requested the Belagavi police to ensure that the Kage family members do not receive anticipatory bail. Speaking to the media from hospital, Vivek also expressed his dismay over the slow progress of the investigation.
“My family and I would be in great danger if Raju Kage and his family is granted bail. It has been over a week since I lodged a complaint and even now the members of the Kage family have not been traced. My parents have been mentally disturbed by the incident. There are many others who were harmed by the Kage family and justice must be served to them. Hence, they should not get bail,” Shetty said, while talking to the media about his request to the Belagavi SP.
He also said he suspected that the police had not arrested the Kage family members due to the MLA's influence.
Supporters and family members of BJP MLA Raju Kage from Kagawada constituency in Belagavi district allegedly attacked Vivek, after he allegedly insulted the MLA's daughter on Facebook.
While the incident occurred on January 1 at Vivek’s residence in Athani, the incident came to light more than a week later, after regional channels telecast CCTV footage of the attack.
In the footage, a group of people, including women, could be seen barging into Vivek's residence carrying sticks and other implements.
The footage then showed Vivek being dragged down the stairs of the house by the assailants, who also caught Vivek's mother by the throat when she tried to intervene.
From hospital, Vivek had told mediapersons that he had sustained a fracture to his leg and hand as a result of the assault, and had to undergo surgery.
Vivek accused the MLA's nephew Prasad Kage and other members of the family of barging into his house and beating him up.
Vivek added that his attackers had threatened him, saying that he was free to approach the police or hospitals, but it would not bear any result as they all belonged to them.