The minister’s crudeness came to light after he publicly called Tumakuru Superintendent of Police Divya Gopinath a “bloody woman.” Police say that SP Divya was insulted and reduced to tears due to the minister’s sense of entitlement.

On Wednesday, the funeral of the late Shivakumar Swami was being held at the Siddaganga Mutt in Tumakuru. Ministers and politicians cutting across party lines attended the ceremony and security was beefed up. Police were instructed not to allow the public to pass through the barricades.