In yet another case of gross high-handedness by politicians, Karnataka Minister V Somanna on Sunday slapped a woman who approached him with some grievance regarding her land and pleaded with him to redress her grievance.

The video of the slapping incident went viral, but what followed was more shocking.  Under apparent pressure, the woman claimed she was never slapped by the Minister and he, in fact, helped her.

 "I am from a very poor family. I fell on his feet and asked him to help me by allocating the land. He consoled me but they are misinterpreting that he had slapped me. He has given us the land. He also returned Rs 4,000 which we had paid.

“We have kept his photo along with other Gods and Goddesses. We worship him at home," she said after she was slapped many times. Few have taken her denial at face value.  Not even Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. Who has sought an explanation from the minister?The incident occurred at an event to distribute land titles in Hangala village, Chamrajnagar district. The woman, identified as Kempamma, confronted the Minister at the event after she did not receive a land title. In the video, Somanna, the state minister of infrastructure development, appears furious and slaps her.

Despite the assault, she immediately bent down and touched the minister's feet. A few men intervened to lift her up, while none of the women security personnel in the video reached out to the woman.

Apparently, the minister turned angry after he was shoved due to the unruly crowd.  "This incident is not an incident at all. I have been in politics for the past 40 years. This was a program organized for the downtrodden and economically weaker section of society.

Though I did not misbehave at all if anyone felt hurt then I apologize and express my regret," the minister told reporters in Chamarajanagar.

According to him, Kempamma, a widow, was repeatedly coming onto the stage compelling him to ask her not to do so.

Though he told her that he will resolve her issue in 10 minutes once he comes down from the stage, she did not relent, Somanna said in his defense after hitting the woman. The event was organised to distribute the land titles.