Mohammed Haris Nalapad, who surrendered to the police on 19 February, was on Wednesday night sent to 14-day judicial custody by a local court in Bengaluru.

Nalapad, the son of Congress MLA NA Haris, is accused of brutally beating a man at a restaurant in Cubbon Park area in the Karnataka capital on 17 February.

The District Sessions court agreed to hear his bail plea on 23 February. His associates, who too were allegedly involved in the assault, have been sent to judicial custody till 7 March.

According to reports, Nalapad’s ground for seeking bail is that Section 307 (attempt to murder, a non-bailable offence) was slapped on him after political pressure and was not part of the initial FIR filed against him.

Nalapad, who was the General Secretary of Youth Congress wing of Bengaluru, was expelled from the party for six years following the assault.

The case created a political headache for the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in the poll-bound state. All opposition parties, including the AAP, launched protests demanding Nalapad’s arrest and the resignation of NA Haris, the MLA from Shakti Nagar constituency of the city.

Nalapad, who was untraceable following the attack, surrendered to the police a day after the protests. Reports said that the circle inspector of Cubbon Park police was suspended for failing to arrest Nalapad.

Read More: Son of Congress MLA who allegedly beat man in Bengaluru surrenders

Speaking to the media on Sunday, Haris had claimed that he didn’t know the whereabouts of his son. Stressing that no one is above the law, Haris had appealed for not “politicising” the matter.

Nalapad is accused of beating a man, identified as Vidyut, at a restaurant in the Karnataka capital. Reports say that Vidyut had sat with his leg stretched due to an injury to which Nalapad objected. The man’s refusal enraged the Congress leader.

Read More: Karnataka MLA’s son accused of brutally beating man in Bengaluru

Vidyut was admitted to the hospital for treatment with a swollen face and dried blood on his shirt. According to reports, Nalapad even threatened the victim at the hospital. The brother of the victim alleged that around 15-20 henchmen of the son of the MLA, too, were involved in the attack.