Nagaraj Asundi, a BJP member of the Channamma Kittur Town Panchayat, who was kidnapped on August 30 ahead of the civic body elections for president and vice president on September 3, was rescued by police on Monday. He was found along with the accused in Bankapur, Haveri district, and both were brought to town and presented in court.
Asundi gave his statement at the JMFC Court in Bailhongal under section 183 of the Bharatiya Nyay Samhita. The three arrested suspects were identified as Ashok Malagi, Basavaraj Sangolli, and Praveen Chikkangoudar.
BJP had accused MLA Babasaheb Patil of orchestrating the kidnapping, leading to protests at the District Police Office in Belagavi and the Tahsildar office in town. The election for the Town Panchayat president and vice president, scheduled for September 3, had been postponed after the Karnataka High Court, Dharwad Bench, stayed the election due to Asundi’s kidnapping.
In the 18-member house, BJP holds 9 seats, Congress 5, with 4 independents leaning toward Congress. Both parties are tied with 10 voters each, including ex-officio members MP Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri for BJP and MLA Babasaheb Patil for Congress.
Former MLA Mahantesh Doddagoudar appeared in court on behalf of Asundi.
