Two killed in accident involving car driven by Karnataka minister's son

Karnataka BJP’s revenue minister R. Ashok’s son was allegedly involved in a car accident that killed two people in Hosapet in Ballari district, according to a report in Kannada regional newspaper Prajavani.

The car crash took place on Monday (February 10) around 3 pm on the national highway. A Mercedes Benz car in which the minister’s son Sharath and four others were travelling, rammed a tea stall on the road, killing 18-year-old pedestrian Ravi Nayak and another passenger, Sachin who was travelling on the car.

Even as photos emerged to prove that the minister’s son was present at the accident spot, the police tried to shield him by excluding Sharath’s name in the FIR but booked his friends. The news report also claimed that Sharath fled the spot soon after the mishap.

However, both, the Ballari SP and the minister denied Sharath’s involvement even as the eyewitness told local media that Sharath was behind the wheel.

The vehicle (no KA05 MW0357) belongs to National Public School in South Bengaluru, whose franchise is said to be held by the minister.

“A person by the name Rahul was driving the car when the accident occurred. He, along with two others, Rakesh and Shivakumar, were rushed to Bengaluru for medical treatment,” the police said.

After the photo of the damaged car went viral, local media aired photos of Sharath being present at the spot. However, the minister denied all the allegations and claimed that his son was not driving the car.

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“It’s really tragic that two innocent people have lost their lives. However, there is no connection between us and the car which met with the accident. In addition, my son was not driving the car,” Ashok told reporters on Thursday.

The incident comes just days after Congress MLA’s son Nalapad Harris was involved in a similar accident.