Belagavi,  5 Jan

An FIR has been registered against Athani Congress MLA Laxman Savadi and his son Chidanand Savadi following allegations of assault on the president of the Belagavi District Central Cooperative Bank Employees’ Association, Ningraj Karennavar.

Karennavar, who sustained injuries in the incident, is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Belagavi. He filed a complaint with Athani police from the hospital, leading to a case being registered against eight persons, including the MLA and his son.

Belagavi Superintendent of Police Ramrajan said the FIR was filed under Sections 189(2), 191(2), 115(2), 351(2), 352(2) and 190 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, relating to unlawful assembly, assault, criminal intimidation and use of abusive language.

In his complaint, Karennavar alleged that he was summoned to Savadi’s residence in Athani last week on the pretext of resolving a union-related dispute. He claimed he was slapped and kicked, and later assaulted by seven to eight others after he fell to the ground, suffering head injuries.

Savadi denied the allegations, terming them false. He alleged that Karennavar had abused a party worker using obscene and caste-based language and claimed the case was politically motivated.

Sources close to Savadi alleged that Karennavar acted at the behest of Gokak BJP MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi, citing rivalry over control of the DCC Bank.

Former BJP MLA Mahesh Kumatolli criticised the incident, while bank employees staged a protest demanding Savadi’s arrest