Accused Marigowda gets royal treatment by police

Even as CM Siddaramaiah’s close-aide K Marigowda surrendered before the police a month after he was ordered arrested by the courts, reporters covering the surrender could not fail to notice that cops in the station were very respectful in their dealings with him.

This is emblematic of the special treatment offered to the well-connected and well-heeled.

It became more than obvious to the media persons on the spot that the Mysuru police were in awe of Marigowda.

Marigowda arrived at the Nazarbad police station, following the rejection of his anticipatory bail plea. It was a pleasant surrender since the accused was soon served biscuits and juice.

The Mysuru police appeared to go out of their way to make the accused feel at home.

A case was filed against Marigowda by Deputy Commissioner Shikha of Mysuru, in which she accused him of disrupting her from performing her duties and threatening her. Fearing arrest, Marigowda had been absconding for nearly a month.

But the police could not trace him. He only turned himself in after two anticipatory bail petitions filed by his lawyers were rejected by the courts.

For her part, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Shikha, who filed the case, has refused to withdraw her complaint despite considerable pressure to do so. Sources say that she is ready to resign to pursue the case to its conclusion.

Sources also said that though Marigowda was a close aide of CM Siddaramaiah, the CM did not intervene in this matter, nor has he given give directives favouring Marigowda.

Clearly, the police have a different set of rules to deal with the high and mighty.