Overview
- Police registered a case against B. V. Rajeev Gowda based on Municipal Commissioner Amrutha Gowda’s complaint and opened an investigation under multiple BNS sections, with a notice to be served.
- Shidlaghatta City Municipal Council employees protested outside their office, backing the commissioner and demanding action following the alleged abuse and threats.
- In the purported audio, a male voice is heard issuing threats to set the office on fire, incite unrest across 31 wards, and have officials beaten with slippers, after staff removed a banner said to be unauthorized.
- Rajeev Gowda denied using abusive or threatening language, claimed the audio was edited and that the banner had permission, and offered a conditional apology while asserting he meant burning illegal flexes.
- Political leaders escalated pressure as H. D. Kumaraswamy called the Chief Secretary seeking action and BJP figures urged booking under the Goonda Act, with the episode drawing attention after a recent banner-related death in Ballari.