Complainant approached officials for a free bus pass, but was sent from pillar to post before allegedly being physically assaulted and evicted from the office
Complainant approached officials for a free bus pass, but was sent from pillar to post before allegedly being physically assaulted and evicted from the officeThe managing director of Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and other junior staff have been accused of assaulting a 70-year-old social worker for approaching them for a free pass, on recommendation from the Chief Minister.
The trouble began when Jattappa Gowda Patil, a social worker from Herikerur Taluk of Haveri district in north Karnataka approached KSRTC MD, Gourav Gupta for a free bus pass stating that he had a letter of recommendation from the CM, who in turn directed him to meet deputy manager Prakash and later Srikanth Udupa.
His application was collected along with the letter and he was asked to come back after a few days. When he went to meet them again, he alleges that they avoided him stating that the application was under consideration.
Patil said that KSRTC officials were annoyed with his regular visits to their office and on one occasion in March last year, beat him up and asked the security guard to throw him out.
Insulted and assaulted
A humiliated and bruised Patil approached the Wilson Garden police to file a complaint where he was assured that the matter would be investigated, but no action has been taken so far, nor did they acknowledge his complaint, he claimed.
Patil returned to meet the officials to enquire about the status of his application, but he was not entertained. He said, "I was shooed away and when I approached the police again, they expressed their inability to help."
Seeing that he was getting nowhere with the police, Patil approached the chief metropolitan magistrate court seeking guidance.
False allegation?
Based on the court's direction, the Wilson Garden police have taken up a case and are investigating. Wilson Garden Police Inspector S S Kashi said, "We had taken up a non cognisable case earlier and upon investigation, found that the allegation made against the MD and his staff is false."
"Patil insisted that a reinvestigation be conducted, for which we did not concede," Kashi said, adding that since they have been directed by the court, they will have to take up the case and investigate.
Reacting to Patil's allegations, Gupta told MiD DAY, "I do not know anyone by this name nor remember any such incident," adding that if any person has any grievances, he could approach him for a redressal.
