Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS/DV)
Mangaluru, Sep 19: A day after members of the Hindu Maha Sabha lashed out at the BJP government and allegedly threatened chief minister Basavaraj Bommai over the demolition of a temple in Mysuru, the police have taken Dharmendra into custody.
Dharmendra is the chief secretary of All India Hindu Maha Sabha. He has been arrested on charges of issuing death threat to chief minister Bommai in a press conference that was held on Saturday, September 18 in a private hotel in the city.
Police sources said that HMS leaders Rajesh Pavithran, Prem and Sandeep have also been taken into custody for questioning. The rest of the accused who were present at the press meet are yet to be apprehended.
During the press meet, state chief secretary of the party Dharmendra stirred controversy when he said, "We have not spared Gandhiji, you are nothing to us at all. Do you think that we, who have killed Gandhiji cannot think of doing the same to you?' while mentiontioning the names of CM Bommai, former CM Yediyurappa and muzrai minister Shashikala Jolle.
Soon after the press conference, HMS state president Lohith Kumar had filed a case against Dharmendra for misusing the organization's name and issuing threat to CM Bommai. Based on his complaint, the Barke police had registered an FIR.
Earlier, a section of the media reported that HMS leader Rajesh Pavithran issued a statement condemning the police for lodging a case against him and others. "The police have recorded cases against many like me who were not present in the press conference at all. I support the statement given by Dharmendra but condemn the registering of cases against many including me," he said.