Bengaluru violence: Naveen P is innocent, says father

BENGALURU: The father of a man accused of posting inflammatory content on Facebook that led to rioting in East Bengaluru on Tuesday night said his son his innocent and had no intention of entering politics.
Naveen P, 35, nephew of Pulakeshinagar Congress MLA Akhanda Srinivasamurthy, was arrested for the post. On Friday, his father said, “I’ve seen reports that Naveen has confessed to the crime but I have doubts about the confession.However,, if he has committed the crime, he should be punished. Naveen had distributed sweets when the foundation stone for the temple was laid at Ayodhya. This could have led to the issue and it looks like a planned attack. Nevertheless, I won’t take up the legal fight for my son.”
Pavan was speaking to mediapersons in front of his residence that was targeted and set on fire by rioters. He asserted that his son could not have posted the derogatory content.
Maintaining that his family had severed its relationship with Srinivasamurthy’s family more than a decade ago, Pavan said, “He used to help others but not our family. We haven’t been on good terms for the past 15 years”
Saying that both his sons have no political ambitions, Pavan said, “They will not contest from Sagayapura ward in the forthcoming BBMP elections. We don’t know who Muzamil Pasha is. Everyone is narrating tales of their own.”
Pasha was arrested in connection with the violence and it was alleged that he was at loggerheads with Naveen as both wanted to contest from Sagayapura ward.