Opposition BJP in Karnataka has demanded the arrest of Congress MLA BK Sangamesh’s son Basavesh for allegedly threatening a woman officer on duty in Bhadravathi in Shivamogga district.
A video of a man verbally abusing and issuing death threats to a woman officer from the Mines and Geology Department went viral on social media, leading to public outrage. The man, claimed to be the son of the sitting MLA, had threatened the officer Jyothi and her colleagues during a raid to check illegal sand mining at Seegebagi in Bhadravathi.
“No protection for women, no respect for women officers”—this is Congress govt's hypocritical women's policy! Bhadravati Congress MLA B.K. Sangamesh's son Basavesh abused the woman officer who went to stop illegal sand mining with unspeakable words! pic.twitter.com/JZvVf6PxSe
— Siddaram 🇮🇳 (@Siddaram_vg) February 11, 2025
According to sources, the officer had raided an illegal mining site on the banks of the Bhadra River at night. A man came to her and asked her to talk to his “brother” on the phone. She was verbally abused by the MLA’s son on the phone call, where he used obscene language and also threatened to run her over with the lorry. The MLA claimed that the officer had demanded a bribe and denied that his son had spoken to the officer.
Following a complaint by the officer, the Bhadravathi old town police filed an FIR but did not mention the name of the accused. The officer said she was “unsure” who had spoken to her on the phone. Based on the viral video footage, the police arrested three persons – Ravi, 30, from Channagiri Mavinkatte, Ajay, 28, from Surendra Gowda camp, Bhadravathi and Varun, 34, from Arkalgud in Hassan and are on the lookout for other accused.
In 2021, Basavesh was arrested along with four others in connection with an assault case. He had allegedly clashed with BJP supporters during a Kabaddi tournament at Kanaka Mantap grounds in Bhadravathi. Sangamesh was suspended from the Legislative Assembly for seven days for “indecent and disrespectful conduct” by then-Speaker Visveshwara Hegde Kageri, after the MLA removed his shirt in protest against “false atrocity” cases booked against him and his family members.
Leader of Opposition in Assembly R. Ashok and his counterpart in the Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, on Wednesday, who staged a protest in Vidhana Soudha claimed that honest officers were not safe in the state.
“We urge the police to arrest Basavesh and send his voice sample to the forensic lab. When Congress minister Laxmi Hebbalkar had alleged that BJP MLC CT Ravi had used a derogatory word against her, he was immediately arrested. Now, why is the police reluctant to arrest Basavesh? Do women officers don’t deserve respect like Hebbalkar?,” questioned the BJP leaders.
The BJP leaders slammed the ruling Congress for failing to arrest the “rioters” in Mysuru who threw stones at the police personnel and the Udayagiri police station injuring the cops and damaging the property.
“The Congress government is supporting the sand mafia and the rioters. This is demoralising the police force and honest officers,” said Ashok, who submitted a memorandum to the DGP Karnataka seeking protection to honest officers.
“This is a failed administration of the Congress, with no funds for development and the government is looting the people in the name of guarantees. The ministers and MLAs are indulging in hooliganism,” said Chalavadi Narayanasawamy.
