In the complaint, Shivakumar CS said he got a call from someone on Tuesday saying that his brother was at the house of one Shekhar. When Shivakumar CS and his father went there, they allegedly saw Shekhar and another person hit Naveen with a stick on his head.

The assailants allegedly tried to attack Naveen with a knife also but fled the spot after his brother and father intervened. Naveen was rushed to a local hospital, from where he was shifted to another one, where he is currently being treated.

According to Shivakumar CS, Naveen had some financial dealings with Shekhar. He believes a financial dispute could have triggered the fight that led to the attack.

The police have registered the case under Indian Penal Code sections 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapon or means), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) and investigations are going on.

On Thursday, Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka targeted the chief minister. “Who is CM Siddaramaiah protecting by filing a namesake case after BJP worker Naveen was assaulted, while the assailants were yet to be nabbed? You claim to be a strong CM but why have you become weak in front of the DK brothers?” he wrote in a post on the X website.

State BJP president BY Vijayendra blamed a Congress “goon” for the attack. He wrote on the website, “A Congress goon has assaulted Naveen, a silk grower and BJP worker, but the assailant was not arrested, raising suspicions. Attacking the BJP workers and threatening the voters is an unforgivable crime.”