Gauri Lankesh murder case: SIT takes Shiv Sena ex-corporator into custody
Bengaluru, September 17: The Special Investigation Team of Karnataka has taken former corporator of Shiv Sena of Maharashtra, Shrikant Pangarkar into its custody for 12 days in related to the Gauri Lankesh murder case.
On Monday, the SIT produced him before the Session Court which remanded him to the SIT custody for 12 days. He was brought to the city for more investigation as he has provided weapons to the accused who killed Gauri Lankesh. A few days ago, the SIT officials have taken a person called Sudhanva Gondelkar into their custody in Maharashtra. Based on his information during the interrogation, the SIT took Shrikant Pangarkar into its custody, sources said. .
It is said that the former corporator was arrested on charges of supplying 7.6 mm country-made pistols and money to the accused who were arrested in the murders of Dr MM Kalburgi and Gauri Lankesh.
Who’s he?
Being the resident of Jalna in Mumbai, Shrikant Pangarkar had elected to the Mumbai City Corporation on Shiv Sena ticket between 2001 and 2011. He was more obsessed with Hindu religion, customs and traditions and it anybody spoke lightly against Hindu religion and culture, he would not tolerate it, it is said.
Sources said that he has important role in the murders of the rationalists in the country. SIT officials believed that they could get more information from him. Already, all the 13 accused arrested in the case were under judicial custody.
Supari
Srikanth Pangarkar had close relationship with Amol Kale and Ameet Digvekar who were arrested on charge of killing Gauri Lankesh. It is said that he had given contract to Vaibhav Rath, Sharad Kalaskar and Sudhanva Gondalkar to kill Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare in Maharashtra.
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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
