High Court stays proceedings against Aanth Kumar Hegde’s son in assault case

Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Thursday stayed further proceedings against Ashutosh Hegde, son of former BJP MP Anant Kumar Hegde, in connection with an alleged assault case.

The interim relief was granted by a single-judge bench of Justice S. Sunil Dutt Yadav while hearing a petition filed by Ashutosh seeking to be dropped from the case, stating that his name does not appear in the FIR or the charge sheet.

The court observed that there are no prima facie allegations constituting an offence against the fourth accused, Ashutosh, and stayed further proceedings against him. The court clarified that the interim order is limited only to him.

Appearing for Ashutosh, advocate Pavan Chandra Shetty argued that his client was not named in the FIR or charge sheet. He submitted that Ashutosh had come to India to visit his grandfather and was travelling in his father’s official car when the incident occurred, and had no role in the alleged offence.

Additional State Public Prosecutor B.N. Jagadeesh submitted that Ashutosh was not initially made a party to the case and that the court could consider the matter if an amendment or a separate application is filed.

According to the complaint filed by Saif Khan of Halenahalli, the incident occurred near Hale Nijagal while they were returning by car after attending a wedding in Tumakuru. He alleged that another car approached at high speed from behind and asked them to stop. After stopping, he was assaulted, and another person dragged them out of the vehicle and attacked them, resulting in injuries, including broken teeth of one Salman Khan who was with them.

The complaint further alleged that Anant Kumar Hegde was present in the car and that others arrived after he called them, following which the assault took place. It was also alleged that his security personnel threatened them with a pistol.

Based on the complaint, Dabaspete police had registered a case against Anant Kumar Hegde, his security staff member Sridhar and driver Mahesh.