Pramod Muthalik acquitted: BJP MP says women must protect themselves; state govt likely to challenge court decision

Shobha Karandlaje, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from the Udupi-Chickmagalur constituency, said on Tuesday that women must learn to protect themselves, while responding to Sri Ram Sene chief Pramod Muthalik's acquittal in the 2009 Mangaluru pub attack case, according to reports.

Refusing to condemn Muthalik, Karandlaje said, "Mangaluru is a very sensitive place and many untoward things are happening to women there. That is why we should be careful and take care of ourselves," adding that she was not speaking for or against anybody in particular.

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About the accused who were acquitted on Monday, Karandlaje said, "They were in jail for six years without any reason." In another related development, the Karnataka government is reportedly set to challenge the acquittal in a higher court.

On Monday, Muthalik and all others accused in the 2009 pub attack in Karnataka's Mangaluru were acquitted due to lack of evidence.

In the assault that was caught on camera, women at the pub were dragged by their hair, and manhandled by Sri Ram Sene activists, who accused them of "loose morals", an NDTV report said.

In 2014, months ahead of the general election, Muthalik was recruited by the BJP and then disowned within five hours. Its embarrassed leadership at the Centre expressed surprise at the state unit's decision.