BJP leader’s son assaults toll staff after saying ‘Do you know who my father is?’
Vijayapura: In a shocking incident caught on CCTV, Samarth Gowda Patil, son of senior BJP leader Viju Gowda Patil, allegedly assaulted toll booth staff in Vijayapura after being asked to pay the toll fee. The video of the incident has gone viral on social media, sparking outrage over yet another case of political entitlement and misuse of influence.
According to reports, the incident occurred when Samarth was travelling from Vijayapura to Sindagi in his black Thar SUV. When the toll staff asked him to pay the toll amount, Samarth allegedly responded aggressively, saying, “Do you know who my father is?” before physically attacking the staff.
Eyewitnesses said Samarth later identified himself as the son of BJP leader Viju Gowda Patil, who has contested multiple times from the Babaleshwar Assembly constituency but has never won. When the toll employees questioned “Which Viju Gowda Patil?” in response to his outburst, Samarth reportedly became enraged and, along with his friends, assaulted the staff members.
The entire altercation was recorded on the toll plaza’s CCTV cameras. The footage, which is now circulating widely online, shows Samarth and his associates confronting the toll workers before launching the attack.
So far, police officials have confirmed that no formal complaint has been filed in connection with the incident. “We have not yet received a complaint from the toll staff. Once a complaint is filed, we will register a case and take action accordingly,” a senior police officer said.
The episode has triggered strong criticism from the public, who have demanded strict action against the accused regardless of his political connections. Opposition leaders and civil society members have condemned the incident as a reflection of growing arrogance among political families.
Viju Gowda Patil, a long-time BJP leader, has contested from Babaleshwar on multiple occasions since 2008 but has consistently lost to Congress heavyweight and current Industries Minister M.B. Patil.
As the video continues to circulate, questions are being raised about the BJP leadership’s silence on the matter and the lack of immediate police response. The incident has once again highlighted the culture of impunity surrounding the children of political figures in Karnataka.
Also Read: BJP files complaint against Rahul Gandhi over ‘Bharatanatyam’ remark on PM Modi
