Former food and civil supplies minister Hartal Halappa, who has been accused of rape, was brought to the city from Shimoga on Friday morning.
Former food and civil supplies minister Hartal Halappa, who has been accused of rape, was brought to the city from Shimoga on Friday morning. He was admitted to Victoria Hospital amid ruckus involving his supporters, the police, and mediapersons.
A Shimoga resident has filed a police complaint accusing Halappa of sexually assaulting her. The criminal investigation department (CID) is looking into the case.
Halappa has been shifted to Bangalore for treatment of health complications. He was admitted to McGann Hospital in Shimoga when he complained of chest pain immediately after his arrest in the rape case. Doctors there diagnosed him with multiple health problems and recommended his further treatment in Bangalore. A Shimoga court allowed the CID to shift Halappa to Bangalore.
The ambulance carrying him left Shimoga around 6.30 am. His supporters followed him in private vehicles. On reaching Bangalore, the ambulance went to the Parapanna Agrahara central jail to report his arrival. Halappa, who has been in judicial custody ever since he surrendered on May 9, now holds the prisoner number, UT (undertrial) 9405. At the central jail, he was examined by the jail’s doctors.
The former minister was then taken to the Victoria Hospital around 2 pm under police escort. The hospital premises was crowded with mediapersons. When lensmen started clicking their cameras, Halappa’s supporters surrounded him in a bid to cover him from the prying cameramen. Several of his supporters even indulged in verbal duel with mediapersons.
When mediapersons and his supporters started jostling with each, the police had to intervene to bring order. Some policemen pushed journalists aside. In the melee, the glass door at the hospital’s entrance got damaged. A photojournalist and three policemen were injured when glass pieces from the door cut their fingers. A lensman from a national daily even lost his imported watch in the confusion.
The mediapersons stood their ground wanting to get the photos. They also protested against the manner the police handled the situation. Victoria Hospital superintendent Dr BG Tilak said a team of doctors, including him, would examine the former minister.
“He has been diagnosed with high blood pressure, hyperthyroidism, asthma, vertigo and diabetes,” Dr Tilak said. “His condition is stable as of now and he is under observation,” he said.
“The hospital in which Halappa was admitted earlier has not given us details of his diagnosis or treatment. We will conduct medical tests on him before we start our treatment. A special team, comprising heads of the medicine, neurology, surgery and ENT departments, will examine him,” he said.
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