Karnataka Home Minister MB Patil on Wednesday said that the police are trying to find missing Congress MLA JN Ganesh who faces charges for allegedly assaulting another Congress MLA in Bengaluru a few days ago.
Speaking to reporters, Patil said that an FIR has been filed against Ganesh and the party has also suspended him for his alleged act.
“Nobody is bigger than law. FIR has been filed and party suspended him. The police are working on it,” he said.
“Our party took initiative to take action against him after the assault,” Patil added.
Ganesh, who is wanted in the assault case, is untraceable. He went missing a day after apologising for his actions in a resort where the Congress had kept its MLAs in a bid to prevent the BJP from allegedly poaching its MLAs.
The legislator from Kampli was involved in an alleged scuffle with Anand Singh, the legislator from Vijayawada, on Sunday at the Eagleton Resort in Bengaluru. Singh was hospitalised with injuries to his face.
The Bidadi police registered an FIR against Ganesh on Monday for attempt to murder, assault, criminal intimidation and other charges. The FIR was based on Singh’s statement at a private hospital, where he is undergoing treatment.
According to reports, Ganesh has been booked under Sections 307 (attempt to murder), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.
The Ramanagar district police have formed three teams to nab Ganesh. The teams will also visit other districts to trace Ganesh.
Police say that the statements of other politicians who witnessed the brawl will also be recorded once they are back from the funeral of Lingayat seer Shivakumara Swami, who passed away on Monday.
Ganesh had on Monday issued an apology stating that there is no problem between him and Singh.
Read More: Karnataka Congress MLA JN Ganesh apologises for brawl that landed party MLA in hospital
“We have come to an understanding. If their family is hurt, I would like to apologise to them,” he said.
Narrating the incident that left Singh with bruises to his eye and other parts of the body, Ganesh said that a discussion between MLA Bheema Nayak and Singh had turned into a heated debate.
“But when I did not agree with their statements, it became an argument. We are all together. I don’t want to comment on who had consumed alcohol,” he said.
He did not say whether there was indeed a scuffle between the two but added that “what happened is personal” and “what is being shown is complete lie”.
Singh’s condition is reportedly stable.