Karnataka minister calls senior cop 'bloody woman', refuses to apologise

Legislators in Karnataka are constantly stirring up controversies. From drunken brawls to making embarrassing comments, we have seen it all. On Wednesday, JD(S) MLA and Minister for Tourism, Sa Ra Mahesh embarrassed the coalition government by misbehaving with a woman police officer.

The minister’s crudeness came to light after he publicly called Tumakuru Superintendent of Police Divya Gopinath a “bloody woman”. Police say that SP Divya was insulted and reduced to tears due the minister’s sense of entitlement.

On Wednesday, the funeral of the late Shivakumar Swami was being held at the Siddaganga Mutt in Tumakuru. Ministers and politicians cutting across party lines attended the ceremony and security was beefed up. Police were instructed not to allow public pass through the barricades.

SP Divya was also a part of the security arrangements. When Minister Mahesh and two other cabinet ministers Venkatarao Nadagouda and SR Srinivas, wanted to enter the building, SP Divya stopped them and did not allow them to enter the building without checking their IDs.

Outraged at being treated like a commoner, Sa Ra Mahesh shouted at SP Divya and said, “Don’t you know who we are, you bloody lady? We are ministers!”

Insulted by the minister’s outburst for just doing her job, SP Divya was reduced to



tears.

Speaking to the media, Minister Mahesh said that he had not made any mistake.

“I have not committed any mistake. The SP did not allow my colleagues and I to enter the building. We wanted to pay our respects to the seer. Police other people, like minister Gali Janaradhana Reddy to enter, but stopped cabinet ministers. As a police officer, she should know who her ministers are,” Sa Ra Mahesh added.

The video of the incident went viral on Wednesday moments after CM HD Kumaraswamy and Home Minister MB Patil praised the police for their service when the seer’s body was kept for public viewing.

In the video, Mahesh is seen arguing with SP Divya. Srinivas is then seen touching SP Divya's cheek and later pleading with her to not make it a big issue.

BJP leaders have questioned Mahesh's behaviour, demanding his resignation for insulting a woman officer. Sa Ra Mahesh was also trolled on social media for his behaviour.

"JDS MLA and Minister Sa. Ra. Mahesh abuses Tumakuru SP Divya. Calls the women police officer "Bloody Rascal" Women officers was spotted crying. Officer had left her unwell kid & reported to work. This is what happens when a party with 38 MLA runs the state," the BJP's tweet reads.

However, CM Kumaraswamy, instead of pulling up the minister, defended him, and said that he did not commit any crime.