Daijiworld Media Network - Belagavi (SP)

Belagavi, May 3: Karnataka legislative council member from BJP, Mahantesh Kavatagimath from Chikkodi-Sadalga is in tricky situation. He has been accused of uploading over 50 obscene pictures in a WhatsApp group. Interestingly, several top officials of the district including women officers and district deputy commissioner are stated to be members of this group.

The WhatsApp group titled 'Belagavi Media Force' has officials, people's representatives and journalists as its members, and it is aimed at bringing to the notice of the concerned, and addressing of grievances of the people and defects found. At around 4.30 pm on Tuesday May 2, Kavatagimath uploaded a large number of photos, over 50 in number, to this group, which made many people associated with the group to hang their heads in shame.

As soon as these photos appeared in the group, several officials and others including women officers opted out of the group memberships. Many slammed the MLC for stopping so low while several others wondered whether the MLC is a responsible people's representative and questioned his commitment to patriotism that is often preached by BJP. The photos soon got forwarded to others and thousands of people got to see them within minutes. As the photos became viral, there was furore everywhere.

People who tried to contact Kavatagimath to question him about this issue, found to their chagrin that his cellphone was switched off. After television channels began to carry this news prominently, it is said that Kavatagimath hastily clarified that these photos which were received from someone else mistakenly got forwarded when forwarding another item. It is gathered that he sought apologies from the group members and people for this slip.