Date:11/03/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/03/11/stories/2006031123060400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Shooting incident: court fiat to city police chief

Staff Reporter

The son of Gurupadappa Nagamarapalli had opened fire on a person at a pub

BANGALORE: The Karnataka High Court on Friday directed Commissioner of Police, Bangalore, Ajai Kumar Singh, to be personally present in the court on Tuesday in connection with a case in which the son of the former Minister for Forests, Gurupadappa Nagamarapalli, opened fire on a person at a pub on St. Mark's Road in Bangalore.

Justice Ram Mohan Reddy directed the commissioner to be present after the police inspector of Cubbon Park failed to respond properly to the directions issued by the court to produce the records relating to the criminal case registered against Suryakanth, the Minister's son.

Mr. Justice Reddy passed the order while dealing with a petition by Chittiappa, owner of 1912 pub, questioning the inaction on the part of the Excise Commissioner in hearing his appeal against the suspension of liquor licence after the incident.

It was alleged that Mr. Suryakanth had opened fire on January 21 after a quarrel with some persons. The bullet fired from his pistol had hit Rathan Kumar, a businessman. Mr Kumar, who suffered injuries, was treated at Mallya Hospital. The Deputy Commissioner of Excise had on February 16 suspended the licence of the pub, saying that it had violated the norms by operating beyond the permitted time of 11.30 p.m. Mr. Chittiappa had questioned this order before the Excise Commissioner.

However, he had moved the court alleging that his appeal against the Deputy Commissioner's order was not being heard. The court had summoned the police records to verify the action taken by the police following the incident.

However, as the jurisdictional police failed in responding properly to the court's direction, it summoned Mr. Ajai Kumar Singh.