Karthik Gowda, accused of rape and cheating by Kannada actress Maithreyi, had earlier failed to appear for the hearing

BANGALORE (TIP): In a blow for Karthik Gowda, son of Railway Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda, a Bangalore court issued arrest warrant and lookout notice for him after he failed to appear in a trial against him. “As Karthik failed to appear before our investigation team despite repeated summons since Aug 29 for questioning on the charges alleged against him by Maithreyi, the eighth additional city metropolitan magistrate issued the warrant to arrest him,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) T.R. Suresh said.

Police have formed two teams to look for 30-year-old Karthik in Bangalore and across the state. Police in Goa and Kerala have also been alerted to look out for him. A search team has left for Madikeri in Kodagu district, about 230 km from here, as he got engaged there Aug 27 and was later seen in Mangalore. “Once arrested, we will present him (Karthik) in the court and seek his custody for interrogation.

The case is booked against him Aug 27 under Sections 376 (rape) and 420 (cheating) of the IPC (Indian Penal Court) on the basis of complaint filed by Maithreyi,” said Suresh. arthik was accused of rape and cheating by Kannada actress Maithreyi.Maithreyi has claimed that Karthik tied the wedding knot with her June 5 at his other house in Mangalore, about 350 km from Bangalore, and that they consummated the informal marriage after he forced himself upon her.

On September 30, Karthik moved a court for anticipatory bail in the case. The city sessions court, however, adjourned the case for further hearing to Sep 4 after issuing notice to the R.T. Nagar police station where the complaint was filed on September 3. The court also asked the police station if it would file objections to Karthik’s anticipatory bail plea.