Yeddyurappa ‘sorry’ for Bache Gowda’s assault drama

M.today

Bangalore, August 16: Triggering a controversy, Labour Minister B N Bache Gowda, his personal secretary and gunman assaulted a Sadashivanagar-based businessman, when the latter overtook the minister’s car near Nelamangala here on Sunday evening. 

The police admitted in private that the minister had hit the businessman, an act that forced Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa to tender an apology on Monday. However, Bache Gowda claimed that he was not involved in the assault.  

The incident occurred at Maragondanahalli when Gowda, who is also the minister in charge of Hassan district, was returning to Bangalore after attending an Independence Day programme.

According to the police, Bharat Gowda overtook the minister’s car nearly three times. The driver of the minister’s car first chased the real estate businessman’s vehicle before waylaying it. When he was asked about his “rash” driving, Bharat Gowda retorted: “Can’t the minister’s car follow other vehicles? Does his car have a preference on the road?” Infuriated over this, the minister’s personal secretary and gunman thrashed him, police said. They also confirmed in private that the minister also slapped the man. Later, Bache Gowda called the police to the spot and asked them to take action against Bharat Gowda.

Following this, Bharat Gowda was taken to the Nelamangala police station where a case of rash driving and endangering the lives of others under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, was booked against him. A fine of Rs 300 was also slapped on him.

Police say they acted against the businessman after the minister lodged a complaint. “If Bharat Gowda lodges a complaint against the minister, we’ll take action,” they added.
When the media drew the CM’s attention to the incident, he said: “I am hurt with the incident. I apologise and will take appropriate steps to ensure that such incidents do not recur.”

When contacted, Bache Gowda, however, maintained that he didn’t even alight from his car. “I was irritated with his rash driving. So, when my driver Devdas and gunman Rajshekhar asked him to drive properly, he started questioning my authority. Then I called the police,” he claimed.

According to Bache, a crowd was about to thrash Bharat Gowda for his badmouthing. “But, I didn’t leave the matter to spin out of control,” he contended.