My son is a victim of Bangalore’s high-flying lifestyle - Kumaraswamy

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has laid the blame for his son’s involvement in a late-night brawl at a restaurant at the doorstep of Bangalore’s high-flying lifestyle.

Speaking to reporters, Kumaraswamy said his son had become a victim of the “late-night” culture in Bangalore. “This incident might have happened in the company of friends. It is because of the attraction for high life in the City”, the Chief Minister said when he was asked about his 19-year-old son Nikhil Gowda running amok at a restaurant in Bangalore after he was denied food late in the night.

When the Chief Minister was asked whether he had given any advice to his son, Kumaraswamy said he had not met his son after the incident as he was away from Bangalore on a hectic tour schedule visiting villages.

But, Nikhil Gowda’s grand father and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda said law will take its own course. “The law of the land will apply equally to everybody”, the JD (S) supremo told reporters.

“He is a young boy and some other boys were also there. Whatever has happened is unfortunate. I do agree. But, the Chief Minister has not spared him, the officials have not spared the boy on political considerations. Further investigations will be as per law”, Deve Gowda said.

Meanwhile, Home Minister M P Prakash has dismissed the incident as an act of “juvenile delinquency”. Speaking to reporters, Prakash said there was no confusion in the issue. He also clarified that no pressure will be brought to bear on the police officials investigating the case. “The law will take its course”, Prakash said.

It may be mentioned here that Chief Minister Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil Gowda and two of his friends named Syed Ehthesham and Manjunath were involved in a late-night brawl outside Hotel Empire on Church Street in Bangalore.

The police have registered a complaint lodged by the Hotel staff that Nikhil and his friends assaulted a few staff members and vandalized the hotel. Nikhil and his friends have also lodged a counter complaint that they had been beaten up by the hotel staff. The Bangalore police is investigating both the cases.