BJP Karnataka President B S Yeddyurappa has landed in a controversy after a video purportedly showing him telling a police official not to harass some Hindu youths in a murder case in Hassan district went viral.
"You have already arrested 14-15 Hindu youths. A few more are being tortured. Please don't do such things in future. It won't be nice, situation in Arsikere may get disturbed, peace may get disturbed," he is seen speaking in the video footage.
Congress Spokesperson Brijesh Kalappa, who posted the video on his Facebook, has accused Yeddyurappa of trying to "influence" the course of investigation into the murder case.
Kalappa also charged that Yeddyurappa was giving a threat to the SP, who was only trying to do his job. As a public servant the BJP leader was doing a "wrong thing."
"It is a clear indication that Yeddyurappa wants to influence the course of investigation," he alleged.
Sources in the BJP said that there no clarity on who Yeddyurappa is speaking to.
However, Shahapurwad denied getting a call from Yeddyurappa and the investigation is going on unhindered.
Violence had erupted in Arsikere following the murder of 24 year-old Emanuel Varun, who was stabbed to death on May 29 with some shops being attacked in the fallout of the incident.