Winnipeg mayoral candidate Venkat Machiraju arrested for violating protection order, manager says

One of Winnipeg's eight mayoral candidates was arrested this week for violating the terms of a protection order.

VenkatMachiraju, who has called on two other candidatesto withdraw from the mayoral race, was arrested Tuesday, said his campaign manager, Govind Thawani.

Machirajuaccidentally dialed a phone number belonging to the person who applied for the protection order, said Thawani, who alleged the incident took place months ago, after the mayoral candidate had a stroke and started sufferingfrom dexterity issues.

"A pocket dial is what it amounted to," Thawani said Wednesday in a telephone interview, claiming the violation took place in June. "It wasn't a lengthy conversation. It was seconds. He just hung up."

Thawanisaid he found the timing of the arrest suspicious, given that it occurred the same dayMachirajucalled on Brian Bowman to resign.

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Machiraju asked the incumbent candidateto quit the mayoral race on Tuesday and then asked challenger Jenny Motkalukto do the same on Wednesday.

"This happened in June and he'sgetting [arrested] in Octoberfor a pocket dial," Thawani said.

Machirajuis slated to appear before a judge on Nov. 7, two weeks after election day, Thawani said.

Thawanisaid Machirajuhas been planning to run for mayor for three years and followed through on that plan despite his stroke.