Group of guests allege attack, threats at Kodagu resort owned by BJP leader

MADIKERI: A group of guests including three couples an five children from Bengaluru, who had checked in at a resort Napoklu in Kodagu district, were allegedly assaulted and threatened by the resort owner and staff.

The incident occurred at Skylarc Resort in Napoklu, owned by Manu Muthappa Appachettolanda, said to be an influential BJP leader. The victims have since filed a complaint with Kodagu district deputy commissonier, the police superintendent and the Bengaluru police commissioner.

According to Vinal Jain, in his complaint, the group of three couples and five children, visited Skylarc Resort for the Deepawali weekend. Though ‘premium’ amenities were promised on the resort’s website during booking, the resort failed to provide even basic necessities, he said. Their complaints about these issues were dismissed as payments had been taken upfront at the time of check-in.

“When I recorded Manu Muthappa Appachettolanda’s hostile response to our requests in the dining room, he physically assaulted me when he saw me recording him on my mobile phone, leading to my T-shirt getting torn. My family members who intervened were also attacked. We were 3 women, 3 men and 5 children. When we tried to leave after the assault fearing further attacks in the middle of the night, Manu Muthappa and his men blocked our exit in the parking area, threatening us and beating the family men”.

“We observed that they were carrying hockey sticks and metal rods in the truck. They chased us for over 15 km in a white Tata pickup truck late at night. We believe Rita Muthappa, his wife, was also a part of the team that was chasing us. This was life threatening and intimidating as we sped in the darkness not knowing where to find protection, as the police weren’t not answering our calls since 10.15 pm”, he said.

“The incident has severely traumatized children with us, who are now receiving emotional support through counselling at school. They fear going to school as they still feel they are being followed to attack”, he added.