Karnataka BJP MLA Y Bharath Shetty booked over ‘Rahul Gandhi must be slapped’ remark

Karnataka BJP MLA Y Bharath Shetty has been booked for allegedly making provocative statements against Congress MP and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi during an event at Kavoor in Mangaluru.

According to the First Information Report (FIR), on July 8, Shetty referred to Gandhi displaying a photo of Lord Shiva in Parliament. “Rahul Gandhi should be locked up and slapped inside Parliament. This act will lead to the filing of seven to eight FIRs. If Rahul Gandhi comes to this side (Mangaluru), we will take care of him,” Shetty allegedly said.

Congress leader Anil K lodged a complaint, following which an FIR was filed against Shetty, an MLA from the Mangaluru North constituency, Mangaluru Police Commissioner Anupam Agarwal said. Shetty was booked under sections 351 (3) (criminal intimidation) and 353 (statements conducing to public mischief) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

A police officer said that a notice had been served to Shetty to appear before the investigating team.