Police will initiate action against Muthalik: Yeddyurappa

BANGALORE / BELGAUM - Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on Friday assured the State Police would initiate appropriate action against Sri Ram Sene chief patron Pramod Muthalik, who was caught by rent-a-riot sting operation.

On Thursday evening, a private news channel aired video clippings of a sting operation where some Sene leaders spoke about organizing a riot in return for money.

Yeddyurappa also categorically said neither his party not his government has any relationship with Muthalik and his organization.

Interacting with media, Yeddyurappa said he had never interfered in such matters and police are free to take action.

“I don’t know anything about Muthalik. I read about him in the newspaper. Police will take appropriate decision at appropriate time. We don’t interfere in such matters. Police is there, and according to law, they will take action,” Yeddyurappa said.

He also denied that the expose would have any impact on his government.

Denying charges of being soft on Muthalik, Yeddyurappa pointed that the government had taken action against the Sene after church attack incident.

In Belgaum, hitting back at the news channel for its sting operation, Muthalik filed a report at the Camp Police Station in the city on Friday.

Addressing media after filing report, Muthalik asked for a detailed inquiry into the sting operation either by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or the Crime Investigation Department (CID).

He also alleged that the expose was an attempt to defame him and alleged criminal intimidation and extortion.

Muthalik said the rent-a-riot sting operation was part of a conspiracy to impose President’s rule in Karnataka.

He also denied of having any association with the BJP and the Karnataka Government.

He threatened to file a defamation suit.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Home Minister V.S. Acharya has asked the channel to submit unedited tapes of the sting operation to the state government.

Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh (RSS) leader Ram Madhav has denied any organizational link with Muthalik and said there is no place for violence in the RSS system. (ANI)