Vittal Police Book 27, Including Ex-MLA and BJP Leader, in Cockfighting Case
Police seized 20 roosters and blades used for cockfighting and took 20 participants who were directly involved in the act into custody
Mangaluru: Vittal police have registered a case against 27 people, including BJP leader and former MLA Sanjeev Mathanduru and BJP district president Satish Kumpala, in connection with an illegal cockfighting event at Muralidhar Rai’s field in Kepu village, Bantwal taluk.
The action comes a day after police had filed a case against Congress leader and Puttur MLA Ashok Kumar Rai in a separate incident involving illegal cockfighting in the field of Muralidhar Rai.
Acting on a tip-off, police raided the site on Sunday morning and found a large group engaged in violent cockfighting. Despite being warned about the legal consequences, the crowd refused to disperse.
Seven individuals, including Mathanduru, Rai, Kumpala, Dayanand Ujiremaru, Hariprasad Yadav, Ashok Shetty (Vittal), and Rajesh Balekallu, were identified as instigating and encouraging the cockfighting.
Police seized 20 roosters and blades used for cockfighting and took 20 participants who were directly involved in the act into custody.
The case has been registered under sections 189(2), 49, 221, 223, 190 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, and Sections 3 and 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.