Bengaluru: The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has urged the Karnataka High Court to revoke the interim protection from arrest granted to KR Puram MLA Byrathi Basavaraj (B.A. Basavaraj) in connection with the murder of rowdy-sheeter Shivaprakash alias Biklu Shiva.
The CID argued that there is a strong need to arrest and interrogate the legislator, who has been named as Accused No. 5 in the case registered at Bharathi Nagar Police Station.
During the hearing of the CID’s interim petition on Thursday, Justice Sunil Dutt Yadav presided over the proceedings. The CID requested the court to lift the interim stay that prevents Basavaraj’s arrest, which had been granted earlier while considering his plea to quash the FIR filed against him.
Additional State Public Prosecutor B.N. Jagadish, representing the CID, told the court that Basavaraj had provided false information during the investigation and that significant evidence has been collected linking him to the case. “We have gathered crucial material. His custodial interrogation is necessary. If the court later finds the evidence unsatisfactory, it may quash the case, but at this stage, his arrest is vital for investigation,” the prosecutor argued.
Defending Basavaraj, his counsel said the CID has invoked the Karnataka Control of Organised Crimes Act (KCOCA) in the case — a law applicable only to organised criminal activities. Under KCOCA, anticipatory bail is not permitted, the lawyer said. “If the interim protection is withdrawn, the MLA will lose the opportunity to seek anticipatory bail. The investigation is being carried out with political motives, and we are considering seeking a probe by an independent agency,” he submitted, urging the court to retain the interim order.
The bench orally observed that investigating agencies must be given the freedom to conduct independent probes. However, the court adjourned the matter to October 23 and extended the interim protection from arrest until then.
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Kalaburagi: A dispute over property turned deadly after a man killed his cousin brother using a knife in Kalaburagi’s Sedam taluk late on Friday night.
The deceased has been identified as Basavaraja Talawara (35), a resident of Hanganahalli village.
Basavaraja was involved in a dispute with his cousin, Ghulesh, over the division of family property for some time.
On Friday night, a clash broke out between the duo during which Ghulesh allegedly stabbed Basavaraja with a knife.Basavaraja died on the spot due to severe bleeding, while the accused Ghulesh is absconding, police said.
District Superintendent of Police Addur Srinivasalu, DySP Sangamanath Hiremath and CPI Mahadeva Diddimani visited the crime scene and conducted an investigation.
A complaint has been filed at the Malkheda police station in this regard.
