In a brazen daylight assault, the personal driver of youth Congress leader and businessman Mrinal Hebbalkar was brutally stabbed by unidentified attackers in Belagavi on Tuesday. The incident has sent shockwaves through the city's political circles and prompted a high-level police response.
Attack on Club Road
The violent episode unfolded near Club Road. Basawanth Kadolkar, a resident of Belgundi village in Belagavi taluk, was intercepted by two assailants riding a motorcycle. The attackers stabbed the driver at three different points on his body, inflicting grievous injuries, before fleeing the scene on their two-wheeler.
Kadolkar, who has been working as a driver for Mrinal Hebbalkar for several years, was immediately rushed to a private hospital for emergency treatment. Medical sources have described his condition as serious.
High-Profile Response and Investigation
The attack, given its connection to a prominent political family, triggered an immediate and top-level police reaction. City Police Commissioner Bhushan Borase and Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law & Order) Narayan Baramani personally visited the hospital along with other senior officers from the jurisdictional police station. They collected preliminary details about the assault directly from the injured driver.
Mrinal Hebbalkar, the son of Women and Child Welfare Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar, also visited the hospital to check on his employee's health. The police have launched an intensive investigation to uncover the motive behind the attack, identify the assailants, and trace their escape route. Security has been tightened in the area as enquiries continue.
Political and Business Profile of Mrinal Hebbalkar
The incident has drawn significant attention due to Mrinal Hebbalkar's political and business standing. He contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Belagavi on a Congress ticket but was defeated by BJP candidate Jagadish Shettar. Beyond politics, Hebbalkar is a director in several companies, including Harsha Sugars and Harsha Builders & Developers.
As the investigation progresses, authorities are exploring all possible angles, including personal enmity and political rivalry, to determine the reason for the targeted attack on the driver. The police are yet to make any arrests in the case.
