Congress MLA Haris apologises in Karnataka Assembly for son's assault on youth
Bengaluru: Ruling Congress legislator N.A. Haris on Tuesday apologised in the Karnataka Assembly for an assault by his son Mohammed Nalapad on a youth at a city cafe.
"I tender an apology if the incident involving my son has affected the dignity of the house and pride of its members," Haris said on the third day of the Assembly Budget Session.
Nalapad, 24, is in three-day police custody till Wednesday after he surrendered on Monday at the Cubbon Park police station, where he was booked for allegedly assaulting Vidvat, 24, at Fergi Cafe in the upscale UB City Mall in the city centre on Saturday night after an altercation.
An embarrassed Congress expelled Nalapad on Sunday and sacked him as state Youth Congress General Secretary after police belatedly filed an FIR against him on the complaint of the victim's friend V. Praveen.
Regretting that "sometimes due to unusual circumstances, such incidents happen", Haris admitted that none was above the law and wrongdoers must be punished.
"But I object to the mudslinging by opposition parties against me and my party over the incident in view of the coming Assembly polls," the Congress MLA said.
Denying opposition Bharatiya Janata Party leader Jagadish Shettar's charge that he had put pressure on police to delay the filing of the FIR and arrest of his son, Haris said he would have asked his son to surrender on Sunday itself but was not reachable or traceable.
"Nalapad surrendered on Monday after I conveyed my displeasure to him through his friends and told him sternly to do so, as a law-abiding member of this august house," Haris said.
Haris also apologised to the media for the alleged attack on media persons at the police station by Nalapad's supporters on Monday at the time of his surrender and where members of the BJP and Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) were protesting against the assault.
"I admit that nobody, including legislators, is above the law and wrongdoers must be punished as per the law," said Haris.
Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy told the legislators that a police officer was suspended for not acting against the accused swiftly.
In a statement earlier in the day, Haris also apologised to Vidvat and his parents for Nalapad's violent conduct and murderous assault on their son.
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Allu Arjun didn't leave theatre despite being told about woman's death: Hyderabad police
Hyderabad, Dec 22: Top Telugu actor Allu Arjun did not leave the theatre during the screening of 'Pushpa-2' on December 4 despite being told to do so in view of a stampede in which a woman died, police officials claimed on on Sunday.
Speaking at a press conference on the annual round-up of 2024, city police commissioner C V Anand showed a video, made by police, on the situation that prevailed when the stampede occurred.
The video was made by collating footage, including from news channels and cell phone clips. It suggests the actor remained in the theatre till the midnight.
Anand did not make any comment on the video, but said the media can draw its own conclusions.
A police official talked about the sequence of events on the fateful night of December 4.
He said that he and other police officials informed a manager of Allu Arjun about the death of the woman and told him that the situation was out of control. He indicated that they were not allowed to meet the actor.
Allu Arjun's staff members told them that they would convey the matter to the actor but did not do so, he said.
The official said he later managed to reach the actor, told him about the woman's death and asked him to leave the theatre so that the fans don't harm each other while trying to catch a glimpse of him.
The official also told the actor that security arrangements would be made for his exit.
However, the actor said he would go only after watching the film, the police official said.
Later, accompanied by a senior officer, the official went inside and brought the actor out, he said.
Amid allegations that bouncers hired by Allu Arjun pushed crowds as well as policemen when the stampede occurred at the cinema hall, the police commissioner warned that stringent action as per law would be taken if THE bouncers indeed misbehaved with the police on duty.
The VIPs would be made responsible for the behaviour of the bouncers hired by them, he said.
Asked if the police would appeal against the interim bail granted to Allu Arjun, the commissioner refused to give a direct response, just saying it is part of the investigation.
What course of action is taken would be known in the days to come, he said.
He also declined to comment when asked if the family of the deceased told him about Allu Arjun's team or film production team allegedly threatening them not to speak on the issue.
Meanwhile, state Cinematography Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy found fault with Allu Arjun responding on Saturday to the debate in the Legislative Assembly.
The minister, who observed that the actor should have respect for the government and the chief minister, demanded an apology from Allu Arjun to the government and the CM.
"This government is never vindictive. As Cinematography Minister, we allowed benefit shows and hiking ticket prices to promote the film industry," he said.
However, Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar found fault with CM Revanth Reddy for his comments on Allu Arjun in the Assembly on Saturday.
The comments of the CM sounded like character assassination of Allu Arjun and hurting the Telugu film industry, he alleged in a statement.
Later in the day, Sanjay Kumar visited a boy who is undergoing treatment in a hospital after being injured in the stampede.
"Consoled his father over the heartbreaking loss of his wife, Revathi. I pray to god that Sritej recovers at the earliest. Assured support to the family in this difficult time," Kumar said on X.
Earlier in the day, state DGP Jitender told reporters in Karimnagar district that film personalities and all others should understand that safety and security of citizens is utmost important, and also conduct themselves accordingly.
