JDS Leader C Manjunath Arrested for Assaulting Traffic Cop on Bannerghatta Road

Janata Dal (Secular) state general secretary C Manjunath, also known as Gottigere Manjunath, was arrested after he allegedly abused, punched, and headbutted an on-duty traffic police constable at Gottigere junction on Bannerghatta Road on Sunday afternoon.

The victim, Arun Manjappa Badagoudra, a constable attached to the Hulimavu traffic police station, was managing peak-hour vehicular movement at the junction using hand signals. When Arun stopped a white Mercedes Benz carrying the 65-year-old politician to clear vehicle flow in the opposite direction, Manjunath exited the car and began verbally abusing the policeman.

According to police officials, when the constable reacted to the verbal abuse, Manjunath snatched Arun's mobile phone and smashed it onto the road. The politician then physically assaulted the constable by headbutting him, kicking him, and punching him in the face, which caused bleeding injuries.

Following the assault, Manjunath fled the scene. Constable Arun was taken to Jayanagar General Hospital for medical treatment. Because the incident was treated as a medico-legal case, the hospital authorities notified the jurisdictional Hulimavu police.

Hulimavu police registered a case based on Arun's complaint naming Manjunath, his driver, and two other individuals. Investigators reviewed recordings from body cameras worn by the traffic police officers stationed at the spot, which verified the constable's allegations.

Police tracked down and arrested Manjunath around 3 a.m. on Monday from a hotel located near Meenakshi Mall. Although Manjunath initially denied assaulting the constable, officers presented the digital bodycam recordings to him after his arrest.

Manjunath and the other accused were booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for causing grievous injuries to deter a public servant from discharging his duty, alongside other sections. Manjunath was produced before a court, which granted him conditional bail on health grounds. Police are continuing efforts to trace his driver and the two other suspects.