Bangalore: Sadananda Gowda’s son will be held if necessary, say police

The Hindu

Bangalore, Aug 29, 2014: A day after a film actor filed a complaint of rape and cheating against Karthik Gowda, son of Union Railway Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda, a special investigation team on Thursday was awaiting her medical examination report and a statement from her.

 

“We will arrest the accused if necessary,” said a police officer supervising the investigation.

 

 

The police have booked the accused under Sections 376 (rape) and 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code. Conversations with him that the actor said she had recorded on her mobile phone, could be analysed to corroborate her allegations, the police said.

 

The actor appeared on television talk shows on Thursday, saying her intention was not to defame or malign Mr. Sadananda Gowda or his son or get the latter punished.

 

“I want to be his wife as promised by him. He even tied a turmeric-smeared thread around my neck in the puja room in his house in Mangalore on June 5. He raped me, though I told him we were still not married through proper rites. He promised to take me home within three months, but his engagement to another girl shocked me,” she said. “I will even seek the help of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.” The actor filed the case on Wednesday night after making the allegations on several television networks even as Karthik’s engagement to another woman was being announced.

 

Meanwhile, posts on some social-networking sites alleged that the actor was a Congress worker and was trying to defame a BJP Minister. Her photographs with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Home Minister Ambareesh, also an actor, were posted on these sites.

 

Mr. Siddaramaiah, however, said he was not aware if the victim was a Congress worker.