Bengaluru: Reality show contestants Rajath Kishan G and Vinay Gowda, who were arrested Monday evening for displaying a lethal weapon in a video that went viral on social media, were released around midnight after they managed to produce a fibre-made weapon that they claimed was used by them.
However, the duo was arrested again on Tuesday after police suspected that the fibre weapon produced wasn’t the one used in the video. As the weapon used in the reel is now missing, police have charged Rajath and Vinay with destruction of evidence.
On Monday night, Rajath called his wife and informed her where the dummy weapon they claimed to have used was kept — at Akshay studio in Nagarabhavi, where the reel was shot. The wife brought the fibre-made weapon to Basaveshwaranagar police station, after which the duo was released, as using a fibre weapon in a private place is not a punishable offence.
However, Tuesday saw police drawing flak for not comparing the weapon produced before them with the one used in the video. Responding to questions, police commissioner B Dayananda said the fibre weapon produced before them has been sent to experts. “We will be taking necessary action,” he added.
Rajath and Vinay, who had been asked to appear before the investigating officer by 10am Tuesday, turned up at the police station only around 2.20pm. They were again subjected to questioning and taken for a spot inspection.
“When we took Vinay and Rajath to the studio for mahazar, we didn’t find the weapon used in the reel. Since a different weapon was produced, we have invoked charges for destruction of evidence. They will be produced before the magistrate at night and we will request their police custody as the weapon is still missing,” a police officer said.
Clarification from duo
Before appearing at the police station, Rajath and Vinay released two video clips defending themselves over producing a different weapon and denying that they misled police. “The shooting prop produced before the cops was brought from the studio… I’m clarifying that I have nothing to do with the misleading,” said Vinay.
Rajath, meanwhile, described the matter as a “small issue”. “Being actors, we did the reel; our intention was not to influence others to do the same. When we called the studio staff, they gave the property which was available there. We didn’t have any idea which weapon they gave. We haven’t misguided or lied to the police,” he said.
