Bengaluru: Kannada actor ‘Duniya’ Vijay was arrested on Saturday night for allegedly assaulting a gym trainer at a bodybuilding competition at Dr. Ambedkar Bhavan in Vasanthnagar and abducting him from the venue.

The victim, Maruthi Gowda, who is being treated for his injuries at a private hospital, is the nephew of Vijay’s friend-turned-rival Krishnamurthy.

Three others, including the actor’s chauffeur and his personal trainer, were also arrested on similar charges.

Vijay, who was charged by the High Grounds police under sections 323 (assault), 362 (kidnap), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 342 (wrongful confinement) of the Indian Penal Code spent the night in police custody even as protesters and supporters gathered outside the station.

On Sunday night, the four men were produced before a city magistrate at his residence, who remanded them in 14-day judicial custody.

According to the police, Gowda and Vijay got into an argument at the bodybuilding competition, which devolved into a brawl. Vijay and his associates allegedly assaulted Gowda and dragged him into a car. “In his statement, the victim said he was thrashed in the moving car which was headed towards Nayandahalli junction,” said the police. They allegedly forced him to confess that he had started the fight, and recorded his statement on a cellphone.

When Gowda’s uncle Krishnamurthy — Vijay’s former friend and now a rival, learned what had happened, he filed a complaint with the High Grounds police. A senior police officer called the actor on his cellphone, and asked him to report to the police station immediately. The actor and his associates returned to the station with Gowda.

Hundreds of supporters from both camps gathered outside the station and a KSRP platoon was deployed to contain the situation. The police detained Vijay, his chauffeur, and his personal trainer — both men go by the name Prasad — and Mani for questioning while Gowda was taken to a private hospital.

Vijay insisted that he took Gowda in his car to save him from being attacked by his fans who were witness to the row. However, after Gowda’s allegations that he had been assaulted and abducted, the police arrested all four men.

On Sunday morning, the accused were taken to Vyalikaval police station for further questioning. Central Crime Branch officials questioned the actor for a few hours.