The BJP on Thursday issued a showcause notice to first-time MLA Akash Vijayvargiya for assaulting a civic official with a cricket bat in hometown Indore, Madhya Pradesh, days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called for his sacking, sources said.

BJP insiders said any action against the 34-year-old son of party general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya would be based on his reply to the notice from the party’s central disciplinary committee.

Modi had at a parliamentary party meeting on Tuesday condemned Akash’s act and said he should be sacked. He had also called for the sacking of party members who had publicly celebrated the MLA’s release on bail and garlanded him.

Modi had wondered what “parakram” (extraordinary feat) worthy of garlanding Akash had accomplished.

BJP leaders said that given Modi’s firm stand, some action was certain to be taken against Akash.

Kailash, the BJP’s minder for Bengal, is known to be close to BJP president Amit Shah. Many in the party feel that Akash might be pardoned after he accepts his guilt and promises not to repeat the act.

Kailash had on Monday called his son a “kachcha khiladi” (novice) and said it was a minor misdemeanour that had been blown out of proportion.