FIR filed against BJP MLA Vedavyasa Kamath and 11 others for alleged assault on Cong worker
Mangaluru (Karnataka), Mar 3 (PTI): An FIR has been registered against 12 individuals, including Mangalore City South MLA Vedavyasa Kamath, following an alleged assault on a Congress worker during a religious event at the Sri Krishna Bhajana Mandira near Shaktinagara, police said on Monday.
The incident happened late Sunday night, following which a complaint was lodged at the Kankanady police station here, they said.
According to the complaint lodged by Congress worker Yashwanth Prabhu, the incident occurred while he was assisting as a volunteer in welcoming guests for the Brahma Kalashotsava ceremony.
Prabhu alleged that upon arrival, MLA Kamath confronted him, asking, "What work do you have here after throwing stones at temples?", a remark he perceived as politically motivated.
When he objected, a verbal altercation ensued, following which a group of individuals, including Ashwith Kottari, Mani, and Jayaprakash, allegedly attacked him, tearing his shirt.
Prabhu also claimed in his report that Jayaprakash threatened his life.
Reacting to the complaint, BJP spokesperson Raj Gopal Rai dismissed the allegations as false, accusing the Congress of orchestrating a smear campaign against BJP leaders.
"Since Congress came to power, there has been a pattern of filing false cases against BJP leaders, including MLAs. This is yet another attempt to create chaos at a peaceful event and blame the BJP," Rai alleged.
MLA Kamath was merely engaging in casual conversations at the religious gathering and later distributed prasadam before leaving. However, some Congress workers attempted to stir unrest, instigating people to surround the MLA, he further alleged.
The BJP further claimed that during the incident, a member of the Scheduled Caste community accompanying the MLA was assaulted by Congress workers.
"When he went to lodge a police complaint, the Congress members, fearing a counter-case under the SC/ST Atrocities Act, staged a false narrative. One of them allegedly tore his own shirt and admitted himself to a hospital before lodging a complaint against the MLA," Rai added.
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ED raids Kolkata Police deputy commissioner, businessman in PMLA probe
Kolkata (PTI): The Enforcement Directorate on Sunday conducted raids at the premises of Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner Shantanu Sinha Biswas and a local businessman as part of a money laundering probe against an alleged criminal and his linked syndicate in the poll-bound state, officials said.
Two premises of Biswas, including his residence in Ballygunge area and one location of the businessman named Joy Kamdar, Managing Director of a company named Sun Enterprise, have been raided under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Kamdar has been taken by the officials to the local ED office for questioning. Biswas, chief coordinator and nodal officer of the West Bengal and Kolkata Police welfare committee, was not present at his premises, they said.
The action is linked to a money laundering case against an alleged local criminal named Biswajit Podder alias Sona Pappu, who is booked in multiple cases on charges of attempted murder and extortion.
The federal probe agency had conducted the first round of searches in this case on April 1.
The ED had then seized cash of Rs 1.47 crore apart from gold jewellery and silver valued at Rs 67.64 lakh and a country-made revolver from some premises that were searched.
The probe stems from a Kolkata Police FIR against against Podder for his alleged involvement in rioting, attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy and Arms Act violations. The accused, including Podder, were engaged in organised criminal syndicate activities in the state of West Bengal and generated funds illegally by way of syndicate operations, the ED said in a statement on April 9.
Podder is also wanted by the police in a case of violence in Kankulia road near Golpark of Kolkata and is currently on the run.
The ED has issued summons to Podder but he has failed to join the investigation so far, according to the agency.
West Bengal will have a two phase poll on April 23 and April 29.
