Court issues arrest warrant against Karthik Gowda

BANGALORE: A magistrate's court in Bangalore issued arrest warrant against Railway Minister DV Sadananda Gowda's son Karthik Gowda on Thursday in connection with a case of rape and cheating registered against him last week based on the complaint from a small-time Kannada actress.

The Bangalore Police, however, are moving cautiously in the case, and appear to be awaiting the outcome of an anticipatory bail application the young Gowda has moved before another court. The court, which heard his anticipatory bail plea, however, adjourned the case to Friday as the Public Prosecutor was yet to present his views.

Whether the police will seek to arrest the accused, or the man himself will surrender before the court, however, depends on the outcome of the bail plea. If he succeeds in getting the bail then the police will record the arrest, and set him free in compliance with the bail order.

The Bangalore Police, last week, registered an FIR against Karthik on charges of rape (IPC section 376) and cheating (IPC section 420) after a 27-year-old actress from Mandya district filed a complaint.

Before approaching the police, the ac tress, who has played bit parts in two movies, claimed that Karthik was already married to her, and that she was “surprised“ to find him getting engaged to another woman.

They came to know each other through common friends, and Karthik's driver was a witness to their marriage at the family's home in Dakshina Kannada district, she alleged. Her allegations came on the day of Karthik's engagement to a businessman's daughter in Madikeri district.