Bengaluru: Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has directed Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh to conduct an inquiry into the incident in which several Ministers and elected representatives were prevented by the Police from entering the Nandi Dhwaja Puja enclosure at the Mysore Palace during the Jumboo Savari procession yesterday.

Shivakumar said officials had acted in a high-handed manner by denying entry to Cabinet Ministers and that action would be taken against those found responsible based on the inquiry report. Following his directions, the Chief Secretary has sought explanations from Superintendent of Police C.B. Rishyanth and other Police officials.

The incident occurred as Shivakumar was proceeding to the venue to flag off the Jumboo Savari. Kannada and Culture Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi, Muzrai Minister K.S. Basavanthappa and Agriculture Minister P.M. Narendra Swamy were following him when Rishyanth reportedly stopped them, saying they were not authorised to enter the restricted area.

Tangadagi is said to have asserted his position as Cultural Minister and proceeded, while Basavanthappa and Narendra Swamy were blocked by the officer, who extended his arms to prevent them from entering.

Shivakumar, who noticed the commotion, turned back and instructed the officer to allow the Ministers through. The officer then stepped aside, and the Ministers proceeded to the venue. Narendra Swamy reprimanded the officer over the incident.

The restrictions were not confined to Ministers. Senior MLA Tanveer Sait and MLA Srivatsa were also stopped from entering the venue. Sait remained outside for some time before Shivakumar and District In-charge Minister Dr. Yathindra Siddaramaiah intervened and took him to the ritual.

While Dr. Yathindra Siddaramaiah was permitted to participate in the Nandi Kamba ritual alongside the Chief Minister, other Ministers and public representatives were allegedly denied access on grounds of protocol and security, triggering arguments at the venue.

MLAs Anil Chikkamadu, D. Ravishankar and Darshan Dhruvanarayan, along with Legislative Council members K. Shivakumar and Dr. D. Thimmaiah, were also unable to enter and had to watch the Nandi Khamba ceremony from a distance. Several legislators are said to have expressed their displeasure over the restrictions. The episode has also raised questions over arrangements for traditional Dasara rituals. The historic Vajramushti Kalaga and other ceremonies held within the Palace premises were affected by Police restrictions and were not conducted as per convention.