Karnataka BJP leader Manikant Rathore arrested before press conference

Kalaburagi: Police agents arrested BJP leader Manikant Rathore just ahead of his press conference here on Thursday. District in-charge minister Priyank Kharge invited journalists to clarify the allegations leveled against him. The BJP leader has been arrested as part of preventive measures to keep the public order situation under control.
Rathore had called a press conference at the Press Club at 11 am. Police agents were waiting in the club since morning after getting information about the club’s press conference. Later, Rathod invited journalists to his apartment on Paridhi Road in Humnabad by sending a WhatsApp message. But police rushed to his apartment and arrested him.

Superintendent of Police Adduru Srinivaslu on Wednesday said the BJP leader was portraying his act in a vehicle accident as an attack against him by unknown criminals. Police also said that the preliminary investigation report revealed that Rathod had tried to suppress the accident case. He also said that Rathore was trying to manipulate the accident case and give it a political colour.

The BJP leader, who had unsuccessfully fought against minister Priyank Kharge in the Chittapur electoral district in the last assembly elections, reportedly suffered serious injuries after being attacked by a group of unidentified men on a bicycle on November 18. , It was also said that the thieves attacked with blunt weapons. Weapons and beer bottles near Shankarwadi Cross in Chittapur taluk.

Rathore had alleged that police agent and minister Priyank Kharge were involved in the attack against him.