New Delhi, India – A heated verbal spat at Karnataka Bhavan in New Delhi escalated into a serious allegation of assault, as H Anjaneya, Special Officer to Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, formally accused C Mohan Kumar, Assistant Resident Commissioner and Special Officer to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, of assaulting him with a shoe. The incident, which reportedly occurred on July 22, has brought to light brewing tensions between officials associated with the state’s top political leaders.
H Anjaneya lodged a formal complaint with Resident Commissioner Imkongla Jamir and has called for criminal action against C Mohan Kumar. “I was beaten with a shoe, and it has hurt my honour and dignity. Conduct a criminal trial against him (Kumar) and give me justice,” news agency PTI quoted Anjaneya as stating in his complaint.
Resident Commissioner Imkongla Jamir confirmed the receipt of the complaint, dated July 22, stating, “Due process will be followed.”
Allegations of Obstruction and Past Misconduct
In his complaint letter, Anjaneya, a Group-B officer, elaborated on his allegations, claiming that Kumar has been systematically disrupting his duties. He explicitly stated, “He threatened to hit me with a shoe in the chamber of the office in front of everyone.” Anjaneya also expressed deep concern for his personal safety while carrying out his responsibilities as special officer to the Deputy Chief Minister, issuing a stark warning: “If any accident happens, Kumar will be responsible.”
The complaint also made serious accusations regarding Kumar’s alleged past conduct, asserting, “If you look into the service books in the past, he has beaten MM Joshi and not given respect to senior officers and behaved with ego as special officer on duty for CM.” This suggests a pattern of behavior from Kumar that Anjaneya claims includes aggression and disrespect towards colleagues and superiors.
Anjaneya further revealed that he had previously sought a transfer from Karnataka Bhavan specifically to avoid such conflicts while serving in his capacity.
Counter-Allegations and Political Fallout
Reports also indicate that C Mohan Kumar has denied the allegations, in turn accusing Anjaneya of misbehavior with female staff at Karnataka Bhavan. Kumar stated that some women employees have filed a complaint with the Women’s Commission regarding Anjaneya’s behavior. He reportedly claimed that Anjaneya had used inappropriate and sarcastic language.
The incident has quickly become a political flashpoint, with the Karnataka BJP seizing on it to highlight an alleged rift within the Congress government. Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka criticized the Congress leadership, claiming they have “completely lost control over Karnataka.” He stated that the “public slugfest between CM Siddaramaiah and DCM DK Shivakumar has crossed every limit,” reigniting speculation about an ongoing power struggle between the two top leaders in the state.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has acknowledged hearing about the clash and stated he would look into the matter. The Chief Secretary, Shalini Rajneesh, has reportedly ordered an inquiry into the incident. Meanwhile, Delhi Police has stated they have not received any PCR call or formal complaint regarding the clash but would take appropriate action if one is filed.
The matter is expected to undergo a thorough official investigation by the Resident Commissioner’s office as they proceed with due process. This high-profile spat between aides of the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister in the national capital underscores potential underlying political tensions within the Karnataka administration.