Bengaluru: A Congress MLA has been caught on camera threatening a forest official with dire consequences if he interrupted with the construction of a temple within the forest premises.

In the video, Congress leader BK Sangameshwar, MLA from Bhadravati constituency in Shivamogga district, can be heard yelling over the phone, saying, "I have come here to lay the foundation stone for the temple, villagers will start the work, no officer should come and hinder its construction, otherwise I will chop their hands and legs."

The villagers reportedly wanted to construct a temple on a piece of land that comes under the forest department. On being denied permission by the forest department, the villagers had approached the Sangameshwar.