Karthik Gowda wins temporary injunction from court

Bangalore/Kochi: Karthik Gowda, son of Railway Minister D V Sadananda Gowda Rail, has won temporary injunction from a city court preventing the complainant and the media from airing allegations against him.

The civil court's order came after the actress went to television channels with her allegations of rape before going to the police with her complaint. Sadananda Gowda had earlier in the day defended his son against the charges, declaring that Karthik Gowda had been "falsely implicated”. The former chief minister of Karnataka had also promised not to interfere in the investigation, telling reporters in Kochi that "the law will take its own course."

This incident is the second instance of a negative spotlight being turned in recent days on the kin of ministers in the Narendra Modi cabinet. On Wednesday, the Prime Minister denied allegations that he had pulled up the son of Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

In Bangalore, on Wednesday night, the RT Nagar police registered an FIR against Karthik on charges of rape (IPC section 376) and cheating (IPC section 420) after the 27-year-old model and actress filed the complaint. The police have been waiting to meet her and record her statement.

Before approaching the police, the actress 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 said.

The allegations were made on the day Karthik was getting engaged to an industrialist's daughter at Kushalanagar in Madikeri district. The police said section of 376 was non-bailable, but they are unsure yet whether they will take Karthik into custody.

An officer of the rank of assistant commissioner is investigating the case in view of its sensitivity.