Police assaulted hotelier, staff to contain situation?
The incident had taken place on November 9 at Shetty Lunch Home on Dinnur Main Road in R.T. Nagar police station limits at 11.56 pm.
BENGALURU: Did the Assistant Commissioner of Police of J.C. Nagar sub-division, who has been accused of assaulting a hotelier, tried to contain the situation going out of control? Police sources said that the ACP, Manjunath Babu, has given such a statement before the DCP (North), who had conducted an inquiry into the case and submitted a report.
The incident had taken place on November 9 at Shetty Lunch Home on Dinnur Main Road in R.T. Nagar police station limits at 11.56 pm. The hotel owner, Rajeev Shetty, and other hotel staff were mercilessly caned by the policemen including the ACP. However, it is learnt that the incident happened while the police was trying to ensure an incident-free Tipu Jayanti, which was celebrated the next day.
“The ACP’s version, as per his statement in the inquiry, is that he had instructed officers to be extra cautious that night, considering the sensitive nature of his jurisdiction. He has told that two constables, who were on night patrolling and found around 10 men standing outside the hotel, asked them to disperse. But they reportedly did not pay heed and engaged in an argument with the policemen. Thus, they informed the senior officials about the incident.
Immediately, ACP Babu along with other 5-6 policemen rushed to the spot. It was found that around 10 people, who appeared to have come from other localities, were standing outside, while 5-6 others were sitting inside the hotel,” a senior police official said.
“When the ACP told them to leave immediately, there was an altercation and the group allegedly tried to assault the policemen. That is when the ACP ordered his staff to disperse the mob and the policemen resorted to mild cane charge. The ACP, in his statement, has told that he had no idea that Rajeev Shetty was the hotel owner and he mistook him to be one among the crowd,” the official added.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that Shetty was earlier booked three times under the Karnataka Police Act, for keeping hotel open till 2.30 am, beyond permissible hours.