Bengaluru: Former BJP MP Anantkumar Hegde, along with his gunman, driver, and one unidentified person, has been booked for assaulting a Muslim family and threatening them after allegedly stopping their car on the Tumakuru-Bengaluru National Highway, police confirmed on Tuesday. The incident reportedly took place on Monday evening.
According to the complaint filed by Saif Khan, a resident of Halenahalli, Bengaluru, the family was returning from a wedding in Tumakuru when their car was forcibly stopped near Suttariya College. Khan alleged that Hegde and his associates surrounded their vehicle, claimed to be officials, and then proceeded to abuse and assault them.
Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said an investigation was pending in the case. "As per the information I have received, it seems that when Anantkumar Hegde was to arrive on the highway, his driver and gunman stopped a vehicle and assaulted someone. I can't say anything right now, as a full investigation is still pending. They (Hegde's side) have claimed that no assault took place," he added.
Man Suffered Dental Injuries
The victims include Saif’s mother Gulmeer Unnisa, brother Salman Khan, and uncle Ilyas Khan. The FIR states that the accused used communal slurs, issued death threats, and even brandished a firearm during the attack.
As per the complaint, Salman Khan sustained dental injuries, while Ilyas Khan was also physically hurt in the alleged assault. The family has accused the attackers of making communal remarks and threatening their lives, creating a wave of outrage over the motive and brutality of the act.
The Dobbespet Police have registered a case under appropriate sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and have initiated an investigation. However, authorities have not yet confirmed the motive behind the assault or the nature of the altercation.
As of now, no arrests have been reported in connection with the case.