Lawyer Jagadesh KN Mahadev, who represented the woman in the sex-for-work scam involving former minister Ramesh Jarkiholi and hired an IPS officer, was arrested for assaulting another lawyer during the commotion at the city’s Civil Court premises last week.
Halasuru Gate Police said Mahadev was arrested from his home in Kodigehalli and later brought before the court which remanded him for 14 days. He was convicted under IPC Sections 153A (promotion of intergroup enmity), 120B (criminal association), 143 and 149 (both relating to unlawful assembly), 147 (riot), 307 (attempted murder ) and 323 (intentionally causing injury).
The arrest came after a certain G Narayanaswamy filed a complaint against Mahadev over the incidents on February 10 and 11, a senior officer said.
In the complaint, Narayanaswamy said Mahadev and a few others, including Prashanti Subhash and Sharat Khadri, “abused” other defenders on social media.
“They were asked not to make such comments, but Mahadev and others started targeting me. On February 10, they created a commotion in the courthouse and threatened me. On February 11, Mahadev and 50 other people entered the courthouse and disturbed the peace. They held me by the neck and kicked me. Other activists have also been threatened. Threatening calls from 300 people were received,” the complaint states.
Police said the assault took place when Mahadev went to court to file objections in a defamation case brought against him by IPS officer Ravi Channannavar. “We are reviewing video footage of the incident. Members of the Bangalore Lawyers Association office have filed a complaint with the Commissioner of Police,” the officer quoted above said.
An associate of Mahadev, however, claimed the lawyer’s teenage son and others were assaulted during the unrest. An FIR was registered but the police took no action against the culprits, he claimed.
“Mahadev fought against a corrupt IPS officer. Police are under pressure from superiors,” the associate said.
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