Dharmasthala case: Pastor, rowdy sheeter pose as human rights officers, police probe
Bengaluru(PTI): The Dakshina Kannada police are probing two imposters—one of whom is a pastor—who visited Belthangadi police station posing as officers of the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission (KSHRC).
The imposters had approached the police station “to find out the truth” behind allegations of mass burials in Dharmasthala temple town, police sources said on Tuesday.
One of the accused, Madan Bugudi, is a rowdy sheeter from Hubballi. The other is reportedly a pastor in a church at Doddaballapura and a resident of Bengaluru, who also visited the police station under the guise of a KSHRC member.
“He is said to run his own church in Doddaballapura, where he serves as a pastor. Investigations are underway to determine his involvement,” a senior police officer said.
Police registered a case against Bugudi, Mahesh Shetty Thimarody, and Girish Mattannanavar on August 31 under Sections 204, 319(2), and 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for impersonation, cheating, and spreading false information to cause enmity. Thimarody was recently externed from the Dakshina Kannada district.
According to police, Bugudi introduced himself as a Human Rights Commission officer during his visit to the Belthangadi police station.
“However, it was later found that he was not an officer of the Commission at all, but rather a notorious rowdy from Hubballi,” the officer said.
Charges state that Mattannanavar, along with Bugudi, spoke to reporters “with the intention of disturbing social peace and harmony, to provoke the public against the sacred Dharmasthala Kshetra, to hurt religious sentiments, and to deceive the general public.”
The controversy followed a complaint by C N Chinnaiah, later arrested for perjury, who alleged mass burials of bodies, including those of women with signs of sexual assault, in Dharmasthala over a period of time, implicating temple administrators.
The BJP protested against what it called the targeting of the temple, while Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar warned of action if the complaint was false. Veerendra Heggade, Dharmadhikari of the Manjunatha Swamy Temple, welcomed the formation of a Special Investigation Team to probe the allegations.
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Have no personal involvement in Cong’s action against some minority leaders: Shivakumar
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday said he has no personal involvement in action taken against certain Congress leaders from the minority community following allegations of an internal conspiracy during the recently held Davanagere South bypolls.
He clarified that the decisions were taken by the party high command based on available reports.
Asserting that party discipline is of utmost importance, Shivakumar, who is also the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, sought to downplay concerns that action against minority leaders may send a message that "Muslims are being targeted."
"I don’t have any personal involvement in this. Whatever decisions are taken are made by the party leadership. The party has its own reports. Decisions regarding MLAs or MLCs cannot be taken at the state level without instructions from Delhi," he said.
Speaking to reporters, he added, "People may blame me; I am not concerned. Everyone must function in accordance with party discipline."
Responding to concerns within sections of the party that recent actions may convey the impression that minority leaders are being targeted, he said the Congress exists for the welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, minorities, backward classes, farmers and all sections of society.
The Congress has suspended MLC K Abdul Jabbar from primary membership and relieved another MLC, Naseer Ahmed, from the post of CM’s political secretary.
The action followed allegations by a group of Muslim leaders that certain party members conspired to defeat the official candidate in Davanagere South.
Following the action, speculation has emerged that Housing Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan may also face disciplinary measures during the next cabinet reshuffle.
The three leaders had reportedly sought a Muslim candidate for the Davanagere South bypoll ticket, which the party instead allotted to the late MLA Shamanur Shivashankarappa’s grandson, Samarth Mallikarjun. They were also said to have not actively participated in campaigning.
Shivakumar also rejected claims of factionalism within the ruling party amid speculation that leaders close to CM Siddaramaiah were being targeted.
Naseer Ahmed and Zameer Ahmed Khan are considered close to the chief minister.
Rejecting allegations of factions within the party, Shivakumar said, "We speak to each other every day. It is the media that creates divisions. Where is my faction? Has anyone put up a board saying they belong to the Siddaramaiah faction? Have I put up any such board?"
"All 139 legislators are my people, and they are all Siddaramaiah’s people as well. Everyone belongs to the Congress," he added, saying there are no factions within the party and such claims are media-driven.
PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi met Shivakumar on Friday, a day after expressing concerns that disciplinary action against minority leaders may send the wrong message.
Shivakumar said he discussed with Jarkiholi the need to decongest Bengaluru traffic by diverting vehicles entering the city from state and national highways, along with party-related issues.
"We also discussed political matters in the interest of the party and the need to work together," he said.
