Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Apr 11: District in-charge minister, Pramod Madhwaraj, who has been accused by BJP of throwing his weight behind the accused in a case of eve-teasing of the wife of a constable, leading to the suspension of the constable in question, said that he wants both the cases, one about assault by the police constable on the accused, and the other, of teasing the constable's wife, to be properly probed.
Madhwaraj said that the accused, Kumar, works as driver in his company, and his behaviour and antecedents are open for police investigation. He stated that he has no objections if the media persons undertake this investigation. But he asserted that his only concern is that all kinds of investigations should be conducted as per legal provisions. "I have no reservations if my employee is found guilty and punished for his wrongdoing," he added.
The minister wanted to know whether a police constable is empowered to beat up people teasing his wife in such a way that the victim's spine is damaged. "As Kumar was injured and hospitalized, this has become a medico-legal case. This is as per law. No one can escape from this, and in such cases, accused needs to be suspended from service," Madhwaraj reasoned.
In reply to a question he agreed that registration of complaints and counter complaints are a natural phenomenon, but hastened to add that police should have knowledge which are the incidents that need to be registered as police cases. "It is true that the police constable had requested my wife not to file case. But because the victim has been admitted into hospital, we cannot stop a case from getting filed. It has been a practice in our company to admit injured persons into hospitals, and there is nothing new," he claimed.
Madhwaraj wondered whether the media persons want him to stay silent without instructing the superintendent of police to investigate the case even after a person employed in his company has been assaulted so badly that his back has been broken. "Everyone knows that my wife has been managing the company after I became the minister, and that she never interferes in my political life. It is true that the constable spoke to my wife about the case. For me, suspension or otherwise of the constable is not of importance. But the health of my driver is of paramount importance for me," he said.
Investigation
In the meanwhile, both the cases are being investigated by the police. In the case of assault by the constable, departmental inquiry has been ordered. Police circle inspector here will be leading the investigation. Police sources said that police sub-inspector of women's station here has been looking into the complaint filed by Jyoti, wife of the constable.
It is gathered that Prakash had said that he attacked Kumar for having teased his wife when he was away buying medicines, while Kumar said he was attacked when he was coming back after drawing money from ATM. There were no new development in the cases on Monday. The case is gaining lot of mileage because of the fact that the constable was suspended after the MLA instructed the superintendent of police to investigate the matter, and the person assaulted is an employee of the minister. Two political parties are using this incident to engage in mudslinging at each other.